[Federal Register Volume 73, Number 243 (Wednesday, December 17, 2008)]
[Notices]
[Pages 76672-76673]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E8-29947]


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DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT

[Docket No. FR-5273-N-01]


Disaster Housing Assistance Program (DHAP) for Hurricane Ike 
(DHAP-Ike)

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

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 under which HUD shall act as the servicing agency of DHAP-Ike 
commencing November 1, 2008. DHAP-Ike is a joint initiative undertaken 
by HUD and FEMA to provide monthly rental assistance, case management 
services, security deposit, and utility deposit assistance for certain 
families displaced from their homes by Hurricane Ike or Hurricane 
Gustav. The operating requirements for the DHAP-Ike are found in HUD 
Notice PIH 2008-38, issued October 14, 2008. HUD Notice PIH 2008-38 and 
related program information on the DHAP-Ike is available on HUD's Web 
site at http://www.hud.gov/offices/pih/publications/ike.cfm.
    To be eligible for DHAP-Ike, a family must have been displaced by 
Hurricane Ike or Hurricane Gustav, determined eligible for DHAP-Ike 
assistance by FEMA and referred to HUD by FEMA. Initially there are no 
income eligibility requirements for DHAP-Ike assistance. However, only 
families with housing costs that exceed 30 percent of the family's 
monthly income are eligible for continued DHAP-Ike rental assistance 
and case management services after the earlier of July 31, 2009, or 6 
months following the effective date of the Disaster Rent Subsidy 
Contract executed on behalf of the family.
    HUD will invite public housing agencies (PHAs) that currently 
administer DHAP to administer DHAP-Ike in their jurisdiction based on 
several factors such as where the DHAP-Ike eligible families are 
currently residing or have indicated they wish to receive DHAP-Ike 
assistance.
    DHAP-Ike is a temporary assistance program and will terminate with 
the March 2010 subsidy payment.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:  David A. Vargas, Associate Deputy 
Assistant Secretary for Public Housing and Voucher Programs, Office of 
Public and Indian Housing, Department of Housing and Urban Development, 
451 7th Street, SW., Room 4228,

[[Page 76673]]

Washington, DC 20410, telephone number 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 August and September, 2008, Hurricanes 
Ike and Gustav struck the United States, causing catastrophic damage to 
property, loss of life, and the displacement of tens of thousands of 
individuals from their homes and communities.
    As HUD is responsible for administering the Housing Choice Voucher 
(HCV) Program, the nation's largest tenant-based rental subsidy 
program, and has also successfully implemented the Katrina Housing 
Assistance Payments Program (KDHAP), the Disaster Voucher Program 
(DVP), and DHAP, FEMA has requested that HUD design a program for 
eligible families affected by Hurricanes Ike and Gustav that is modeled 
after those four programs.
    In September 2008, HUD and FEMA executed an Interagency Agreement 
(IAA) under which HUD shall act as the servicing agency of the DHAP-
Ike. 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 the KDHAP, DVP, and DHAP, 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-Ike on behalf of FEMA. Under DHAP-Ike, 
PHAs will make rental assistance payments on behalf of eligible 
families to participating landlords for a period not to exceed 17 
months, with all rental assistance payments ending with the March 2010 
subsidy payment. In order to prepare the family for this eventuality, 
case management services are provided for the entire duration of DHAP-
Ike. 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 May 1, 2009, 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-Ike.
    PHA responsibilities for DHAP-Ike include calculating the monthly 
rent subsidy and making monthly rent subsidy payments on behalf of 
participating families, determining income eligibility for continued 
assistance under DHAP-Ike, 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-Ike if the family fails to comply with the family obligations 
of the program or in accordance with DHAP-Ike operating requirements.
    More detailed information about DHAP-Ike and the governing 
operating requirements for the program can be accessed via the HUD Web 
site at http://www.hud.gov/offices/pih/publications/ike.cfm. Any 
subsequent revisions or amendments to those requirements and any 
further supplemental information will also be made available on the 
above Web site.

    Dated: December 9, 2008.
Paula O. Blunt,
General Deputy Assistant Secretary for Public and Indian Housing.
[FR Doc. E8-29947 Filed 12-16-08; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4210-67-P