STATE-LED DISASTER HOUSING TASK FORCE
STATE-LED DISASTER HOUSING TASK FORCE
In response to the impacts of Hurricane Ian, DR-4673, the Florida Division of Emergency Management (FDEM), in partnership with the Florida Housing Coalition (FHC), is standing up the Florida Disaster Housing Task Force (DHTF). Members of the Task Force represent a broad group of public and private, local, state, and federal stakeholders focused on helping disaster survivors move from shelter and temporary housing into permanent homes in economically viable, resilient communities.
TASK FORCE MEETING 6-29-23
At this Task Force meeting, members received an update about post-Hurricane Ian housing programs including SHRC and Direct Housing, and the ending of TSA and FDEM’s Non-Congregate Sheltering program. Members also learned more about the ISAA process with examples of request letters, and discussed the future of the Task Force. Members are taking a break during July so co-chairs FDEM and FHC can evaluate the future structure of Florida’s DHTF.
TASK FORCE MEETING 6-15-23
At this Task Force meeting, members participated in the third round of strategizing for enhancing access for seniors through disaster preparation and response. A draft Hurricane Ian DHTF After Action Report is currently in development, and the Elderly Initiative will be included as a section.
TASK FORCE MEETING 6-1-23
At this Task Force meeting, members learned from Ian Ohlin and Shannon Hagan with FDEM’s IA Division about FEMA’s new Information Sharing Access Agreement (ISAA) process that was used post-Hurricane Ian. Members shared what worked and what didn’t work, and asked questions about the ISAA process in order to better prepare to request data from FEMA before the next hurricane.
TASK FORCE MEETING 5-18-23
At this Task Force meeting, members discuss how to improve disaster preparation and response for the elderly population. This was the second Elderly Initiative meeting out of three; members went into breakout rooms (not recorded), then came back together to discuss big ideas as a group.
TASK FORCE MEETING 4-27-23
At this Task Force meeting, members learned about the flooding and housing issues in Broward County after the recent storm, hear an update about the Disaster Case Management Program (DCMP) from Volunteer Florida’s Christy Rojas, and towards the end of the meeting, have a rich discussion about available resources and upcoming programs.
TASK FORCE MEETING 4-13-23
At this Task Force meeting, members learned about SB 250 from the Florida Housing Coalition’s Legal & Policy Director Kody Glazer, and the DHTF co-chairs hosted an Elderly Survivors Roundtable discussion with experts in care for older adults.
TASK FORCE MEETING 3/30/2023
At this Task Force meeting, members learned about updates to USDA’s Single Family Housing Rural Disaster Home Repair Grant Program, and how building to FORTIFIED standards can mitigate impacts of future disasters on housing.
TASK FORCE MEETING 3-2-2023
At this Task Force meeting, members received an update on FDEM’s non-congregate sheltering (NCS) and Sheltering in Home for Recovery Continuation (SHRC) programs, heard from Michael Chaney of the Florida Housing Coalition updates on the first allocation of Hurricane Housing Recovery Program (HHRP) funding, and from Florida’s Insurance Consumer Advocate Tasha Carter on preventing contractor fraud.
TASK FORCE MEETING 2-16-23
At this Task Force meeting, members received updates on the FDEM’s NCS and SHRC programs from Ian Ohlin. We also heard from Conn Cole, FDEM’s State NFIP Coordinator/Floodplain Manager about FEMA’s 50% rule and new reimbursement rules under the updated Disaster Recovery Reform Act, and from Beth Meyer, Executive Director of the Florida Independent Living Council (FILC) on how Emergency Management can better accommodate disaster survivors with disabilities through planning and prioritized response in the first four days after a disaster.
TASK FORCE MEETING 2-2-23
At this Task Force meeting, members received an update on FEMA’s Direct Housing programs include MHU (trailers) and Multifamily Lease & Repair (MLR), FDEM’s non-congregate sheltering (NCS) and Sheltering in Home for Recovery Continuation (SHRC) programs, the Florida Housing Coalition’s response to HUD’s CDBG-RFI, and Fannie Mae’s role in housing recovery including their Disaster Response Network (click here) and sweat equity guidance.
TASK FORCE MEETING 1-19-23
At this Task Force meeting, members received an update on FDEM’s SHRC and NCS programs, FEMA’s Direct Housing mission, and from Tim McCann of the Florida Alliance for Assistance Services and Technology (FAAST) about how housing providers and case managers can ensure people with disabilities have access to free assistive technology (https://faast.org/).
TASK FORCE MEETING 1-5-23
At this Task Force meeting, FEMA’s Group Supervisor for Direct Housing Michael Piper shares updates on the number of properties participating in the Multifamily Lease and Repair (MLR) program, the group learns about the importance of the Unite Florida Recovery Portal, and other updates on FEMA and FDEM’s housing programs are shared.
TASK FORCE MEETING 12-22-22
TASK FORCE MEETING 12-8-22
In this meeting, co-chairs announce Florida’s repair program SHRC and members discuss key housing updates.
TASK FORCE MEETING 10-27-22
Hurricane Ian Disaster Task Force Kickoff Meeting October 27, 2022, Co-Chaired by Florida Division of Emergency Management and the Florida Housing Coalition
STATE-LED DISASTER HOUSING TASK FORCE WORKING GROUP
The Task Force has a core Working Group who are key agency and industry leaders who will be responsible for developing the Hurricane Ian Disaster Housing Strategy. This will be a working document informing and shaping permanent housing solutions for those impacted by Hurricane Ian. The Working Group will report its activities to the Task Force invites members to share situational updates and exchange resources.
TASK FORCE WORKING GROUP 1-26-23
Hurricane Ian Florida DHTF Working Group 1/26/23: At this Working Group meeting, members are provided an update on FDEM’s NCS and SHRC programs and FEMA’s Direct Housing mission, and are briefed on HUD’s CDBG-DR RFI and the first allocation of HHRP funding.
TASK FORCE WORKING GROUP 12-29-22
Hurricane Ian Disaster Task Force Working Group meeting 12/29/22, Co-Chaired by Florida Division of Emergency Management and the Florida Housing Coalition
TASK FORCE WORKING GROUP 12-1-22
Hurricane Ian Florida DHTF Working Group 12/1/22: In this meeting the Working Group learned about FDEM’s Non-Congregate Sheltering process.
TASK FORCE WORKING GROUP 11-17-22
Hurricane Ian Disaster Task Force Working Group meeting 11/17/22, Co-Chaired by Florida Division of Emergency Management and the Florida Housing Coalition
TASK FORCE WORKING GROUP 11-3-22
Hurricane Ian Florida DHTF Working Group 11/3/22: In this meeting, the group receives a status report from FEMA on IA and other housing programs, and Working Group members share their top concerns.
TASK FORCE WORKING GROUP (Kickoff Meeting) 10-17-22
Hurricane Ian Disaster Task Force Working Group Kickoff meeting 10/17/22, Co-Chaired by Florida Division of Emergency Management and the Florida Housing Coalition
Quick Links:
Disaster Response
Florida Division of Emergency Management
Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA)
The forms of assistance include:
- Rental payments for temporary housing.Initial assistance may be provided for up to three months for homeowners and at least one month for renters. Assistance may be extended after the initial period based on a review of individual applicant requirements.
- Grants for home repairs and replacement of essential household items not covered by insurance to make damaged dwellings safe, sanitary, and functional.
- Grants to replace personal property and help meet medical, dental, funeral, transportation, and other serious disaster-related needs not covered by insurance or other federal, municipality, and charitable aid programs.
- Unemployment payments for up to 26 weeks for workers who temporarily lost jobs because of the disaster and who do not qualify for state benefits, such as self-employed individuals.
- Low-interest loans from the Small Business Administration (SBA) to cover residential losses not fully compensated by insurance.Loans are available of up to $200,000 for primary residence, and of up to $40,000 for personal property, including renter losses. Loans are available up to $2 million for business property losses not fully compensated by insurance.
- Loans from SBA of up to $2 million for small businesses, small agricultural cooperatives, and most nonprofit organizations of all sizes that have suffered disaster-related cash flow problems and need funds for working capital to recover from the disaster’s adverse economic impact.This loan in combination with a property loss loan cannot exceed $2 million.
- Loans from the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Farm Service Agency of up to $500,000 for farmers, ranchers, and aquaculture operators to cover production and property losses, excluding primary residence.
- Other relief programs, including: crisis counseling for those traumatized by the disaster; income tax assistance for filing casualty losses; and advisory assistance for legal, veterans’ benefits, and social security matters.
FEMA may provide Transitional Shelter Assistance (TSA) to applicants who are unable to return to their pre-disaster primary residence because their home is either uninhabitable or inaccessible due to a Presidentially-declared disaster. Click here for the FEMA TSA Fact Sheet.
Florida Bar Foundation Assisting Floridians
- securing FEMA and other benefits
- making life, medical and property insurance claims
- dealing with home repair contractors
- replacing wills and other important legal documents destroyed in the hurricane
- helping with consumer protection matters, remedies and procedures
- counseling on mortgage-foreclosure problems or landlord/tenant issues
For more information visit https://thefloridabarfoundation.org/storm-aid
Disaster Housing Volunteer Organizations
Volunteer Florida
Volunteer Florida is guided by a bipartisan board of Commissioners, who are appointed by the Governor and confirmed by the Florida Senate.
Volunteer Florida administers national service programs like AmeriCorps, which offer Floridians the opportunity to engage in intensive service to their community while increasing capacity for nonprofits and other service organizations. Volunteer Florida’s grantees include schools, educational foundations, nonprofits, faith-based organizations, and other community organizations.
Volunteer Florida provides required fiscal and programmatic oversight of these grants so that we maximize funds and ensure grantees are accountable for results.
For more information, click here.
FL VOAD (Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster)
Membership is open to any non-profit organization that has disaster preparation, response and/or recovery as part of its core mission in the state of Florida. FL VOAD also welcomes local COADs (Community Organizations Active in Disaster), VOADS and long-term recovery groups as associate members. Other organizations and governmental agencies with an interest in disaster work are welcomed as partners. All are encouraged to participate and help improve the collective, collaborative and coordinated work of FL VOAD.
For more information, click here.
Disaster Homeless Assistance
Disaster Response and Recovery for Homelessness
Download the HUD Disaster Recovery Homelessness Toolkit. This toolkit provides an overview of challenges that may occur during disaster-caused disruptions and the impact these challenges pose for individuals experiencing homelessness. It provides guidance for identifying and collaborating with partners to address disaster response and recovery needs, and it outlines strategies to prepare and minimize service disruption.
Homeless Veterans Assistance
U.S. Interagency Council on Homelessness
U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs
Resilience Planning and Mitigation
Mitigation Programs from Florida Division of Emergency Management
Enterprise Community Partners
For technical tools and resources, visit Enterprise Community Partners Solutions and Innovations for Disaster Recovery and Rebuilding.
Other Key Resources
U.S. Housing and Urban Development (HUD)
From NLIHC- Disaster Recovery Initiatives
Florida Housing Finance Corporation- HHRP Allocation Chart
Department of Economic Opportunity CDBG-DR
Previous Catalyst Trainings on Disaster Response and Recovery
Housing Assistance Statewide Informational Meeting Held October 13th for Faith-Based Groups, Social Services and Housing Providers
A huge thank you to the presenters at the Hurricane Ian Housing Assistance Statewide Informational Meeting for Faith-Based Groups, Social Services and Housing Providers held on October 13, 2022 who provided direct knowledge and guidance for supporting survivors with housing assistance. Marcus Coleman, Director of the DHS Center for Faith-Based and Neighborhood Partnerships, Ian Ohlin, State of Florida Individual Assistance Officer from FDEM, and Christy Rojas, Emergency Management Director for Volunteer Florida, explained the importance of signing up at disasterassistance.org, how to navigate the FEMA registration process, and how to connect with volunteers. This video is a must-watch to learn how faith-based and social service organizations can access recovery resources. Thank you to our partners at FDEM, and to our 162 attendees. View the video of the meeting HERE.
Join our Weekly Disaster Recovery Webinars
Each Friday at 1:30 pm the Coalition hosts a one-hour webinar on hurricane recovery. We provide updates on resources that are under development to assist SHIP administrators and housing providers such as disaster assistance toolkits and resource guides. Each webinar features a panel discussion on a variety of topics concerning recovery, preparation, and mitigation. Each webinar is recorded and posted to our website along with the presentation and handouts. See our weekly Member Updates for up to date topics and current registration information.
Publications
This page provides links pertaining to affordable housing and related topics. Links to any external sites do not constitute an endorsement by the Florida Housing Coalition.
