[Federal Register Volume 72, Number 159 (Friday, August 17, 2007)]
[Notices]
[Pages 46235-46236]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E7-16271]


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DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT

[Docket No. FR-5172-N-01]


Disaster Housing Assistance Program (DHAP)

AGENCY: Office of the Assistant Secretary for Public and Indian 
Housing, HUD.

[[Page 46236]]


ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: This document provides notice that HUD and the Federal 
Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) have executed an Interagency 
Agreement (IAA) establishing a pilot grant program called the Disaster 
Housing Assistance Program (DHAP), and that the operating requirements 
for the DHAP have been issued through HUD Notice. DHAP is a joint 
initiative undertaken by HUD and FEMA to provide monthly rent subsidies 
and case management services for individuals and families displaced by 
Hurricane Katrina or Hurricane Rita who were not receiving housing 
assistance from HUD prior to the disasters. The operating requirements 
for the DHAP are found in a HUD Notice PIH 2007, issued August 16, 
2007. This notice and related program information on the DHAP is 
available from HUD's Web site at http://www.hud.gov.
    To be eligible for DHAP, a family must have been displaced by 
Hurricane Katrina or Hurricane Rita and consequently is either 
receiving or is eligible to receive housing assistance from FEMA, and 
FEMA has determined the family is eligible for DHAP assistance.
    HUD will invite public housing agencies (PHAs) that currently 
administer the Housing Choice Voucher (HCV) Program to administer the 
DHAP based on several factors such as where the DHAP eligible families 
are currently residing or have indicated they wish to receive DHAP 
assistance.
    Monthly rental assistance payments under the DHAP will not commence 
until November 1, 2007. However, PHAs that agree to administer the DHAP 
will begin providing pre-transitional case management services on or 
after September 1, 2007, for those families transitioning to the DHAP 
during the initial implementation phase.
    DHAP is a temporary assistance program and will terminate as of 
March 1, 2009.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: David A. Vargas, Director, Office of 
Housing Voucher Programs, Office of Public and Indian Housing, 
Department of Housing and Urban Development, 451 Seventh Street, SW., 
Room 4228, Washington, DC 20410; telephone (202) 708-2815 (this is not 
a toll-free number). Individuals with speech or hearing impairments may 
access this number through TTY by calling the toll-free Federal 
Information Relay Service at 800-877-8339.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: In late August 2005, Hurricane Katrina 
struck the Gulf Coast area of the United States causing unprecedented 
and catastrophic damage to property, significant loss of life, and the 
displacement of tens of thousands of individuals from their homes and 
communities. In September 2005, Hurricane Rita closely followed 
Hurricane Katrina and once again hit the Gulf Coast area of the United 
States, adding to the damage to property and displacement of 
individuals and families.
    Many families who registered with FEMA were able to receive 
assistance either through a direct or financial assistance program 
under the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Act 
(Stafford Act) (42 U.S.C. 5174). Those families that are still 
receiving assistance from FEMA may receive assistance under the DHAP. 
The DHAP recognizes that, due to the magnitude of the Gulf Coast 
hurricanes, many impacted families still require additional housing 
assistance. As HUD is responsible for administering the HCV Program, 
the nation's largest tenant-based subsidy program, and has also 
successfully implemented the Katrina Housing Assistance Payments 
Program (KDHAP) and the Disaster Voucher Program (DVP), FEMA has 
requested that HUD design a program that is modeled after those three 
programs.
    In July 2007, HUD and FEMA executed an Interagency Agreement (IAA) 
under which HUD shall act as the servicing agency of the DHAP. HUD will 
utilize its existing network of local PHAs to administer the program. 
These PHAs administer the HCV program and as a result have the 
necessary local market knowledge and expertise in assisting families 
through a tenant-based subsidy program. In addition, through their 
administration of both the KDHAP and DVP, the PHAs are experienced in 
working with significant numbers of families that have been displaced 
by disasters.
    Pursuant to FEMA's grant authority, grants will be provided to 
local PHAs to administer DHAP on behalf of FEMA. Under DHAP, PHAs will 
make rental assistance payments on behalf of eligible families to 
participating landlords for a period not to exceed 16 months, with all 
rental assistance payments ending by March 1, 2009.
    In order to prepare the family for this eventuality, case 
management services are provided for the entire duration of DHAP. These 
case management services include assisting participants to identify 
non-disaster supported housing solutions such as other affordable 
housing options that may be available for income eligible families.
    In addition, beginning on March 1, 2008, families will be required 
to pay a portion of rent of $50, which will increase by an additional 
$50 each subsequent month. This gradual increase in the family share 
will further prepare the family to assume full responsibility for their 
housing costs at the end of DHAP.
    PHA responsibilities for DHAP include calculating the monthly rent 
subsidy and making monthly rent subsidy payments on behalf of 
participating families, performing housing quality standards 
inspections when necessary, applying appropriate subsidy standards for 
families, and determining rent reasonableness for certain units. The 
PHA is also responsible for terminating the family's participation in 
the DHAP if the family fails to comply with the family obligations of 
the program.
    More detailed information about DHAP and the governing operating 
requirements for the program can be accessed via the HUD Web site at 
http://www.hud.gov. Any subsequent revisions or amendments to those 
requirements and any further supplemental information will also be made 
available on the above Web site.

    Dated: August 14, 2007.
Orlando J. Cabrera,
Assistant Secretary for Public and Indian Housing.
 [FR Doc. E7-16271 Filed 8-16-07; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4210-67-P