Housing Survivors of Major Disasters Act

The term FEMA means the Federal Emergency Management Agency.

The term Administrator means the Administrator of FEMA.

Where an individual or household does not have documented ownership rights in their predisaster primary residence, in making a determination to provide assistance pursuant to paragraphs (2) and (3) of section 408(c) of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 5174(c)), the President shall consider an individual or household claim to having constructive ownership where evidence supports that it is more likely than not the individual or household has such ownership.

In determining whether it is more likely than not that an individual or household has constructive ownership under paragraph (1), the Administrator shall consider all evidence provided by an individual or household, including a digital or physical copy of the following:

(A) The deed or title for the applicable property.

(B) A mortgage payment booklet or another mortgage document.

(C) Property title of mobile home certificate of title.

(D) A real estate property tax receipt.

(E) A will and testament with the name and address of the individual that conveys the individual is the owner.

(F) In a State that does not require a will and testament for the transfer of immovable property, a death certificate and birth certificate that establishes an automatic transfer of legal ownership.

(G) Homeowners insurance documentation.

(H) Home Purchase Contracts, including, but not limited to, Bill of Sale, Bond for Title, Land Installment Contracts.

(I) Receipts of major repairs or maintenance dated within five years prior to the disaster.

(J) Court Documents.

(K) Letter prepared after the disaster from a mobile home park owner or manager or public office that meets FEMA requirements.

(L) Notice of Federal benefits.

(M) Student loan documentation.

(N) Any other documentation, certification, identification, or proof of occupancy or ownership not included on this list that can reasonably link the individual requesting assistance to the applicable property, as determined by the President.

Where evidence of constructive ownership is not sufficient, the Administrator may require the individual or household to provide a declarative statement, signed under penalty of perjury, that describes why the individual or household is the constructive owner of the property.

The Administrator may not require notarization of a declarative statement submitted under this paragraph.

In this section, the term constructive ownership means that an individual’s or household’s residence is owner-occupied, as determined by the Administrator, the purposes of section 408 of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 5174).

This section shall apply to funds appropriated on or after the date of enactment of this Act.

Section 408(b)(1) of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 5174(b)(1)) is amended—

(1) by striking rendered uninhabitable and inserting damaged by a major disaster; and

(2) by striking uninhabitable, as a result of damage caused by a major disaster and inserting damaged by a major disaster.

Section 408(c)(4) of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 5174) is amended by striking in cases in which and all that follows through the end of the paragraph and inserting if the President determines such assistance is a cost effective alternative to other housing solutions, including the costs associated with temporary housing provided under this section..

Section 408(f)(3)(J) of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 5174(f)(3)(J)) is amended—

(1) in clause (ii) by striking Not later than 2 years after the date of enactment of this paragraph, the Administrator and inserting The Administrator; and

(2) in clause (iii)—

(A) by striking 2 years after the date of enactment of this paragraph or; and

(B) by striking, whichever occurs sooner.

This section and the amendments made by this section shall only apply to—

(1) applications received on or after the date of enactment of this Act; and

(2) amounts appropriated on or after the date of enactment of this Act.