What is the Disaster Housing Assistance Program (DHAP)
The Disaster Housing Assistance Program (DHAP) is a federal program developed for families displaced by a disaster. The program is administered by HUD's network of public housing agencies (PHAs). DHAP is a HUD-FEMA initiative to provide monthly rental assistance, case management services, security deposit and utility deposit assistance for certain families displaced from their homes by Hurricanes Ike or Gustav.

How do I know if I am eligible for the DHAP program?
To be eligible DHAP, the displaced family affected by Hurricanes Gustav or Ike must have be referred to HUD by FEMA. FEMA is solely responsible for determining if the family is initially eligible to receive assistance under DHAP. The PHA verifies that a family has been determined eligible for DHAP by FEMA through HUD's web-based Disaster Information System (DIS). Initially there are no income eligibility requirements for DHAP assistance. However, only Hurricane Gustav or Ike displaced families with housing costs that exceed 30 percent of the family's monthly income are eligible for continued DHAP rental assistance and case management services after the earlier of July 31, 2009, or six months following the effective date of the initial DRSC executed on behalf of the family.

What if my landlord does not want to participate in the new DHAP program?
HUD believes that most landlords who participate in the FEMA program will want to continue with the new DHAP program. If your landlord chooses not to participate, then you cannot continue to live at your residence and still have your rent paid through the program (after December 1, 2008). You will have to find an apartment residence that participates in the DHAP program or you will not have your rent paid for you. The DHAP Center staff has plans to provide assistance, if needed, to help you to find a place to relocate so that you will not lose your rent benefit. However, it is ultimately your responsibility to find a place to relocate.

When will the program start making rental assistance payments?
Pursuant to FEMA's grant authority, grants will be provided to local PHAs to administer DHAP on behalf of FEMA. PHAs will make rental assistance payments on behalf of eligible families to participating landlords for a period not to exceed 17 months commencing November 1, 2008 and ending no later than March 2010.

When will I be responsible for contributing to my rent?
On May 1, 2009, displaced families participating in DHAP due to Hurricanes Gustav or Ike will be required to pay a portion of the rent (in addition to any existing family share in cases where the monthly rent already exceeds the monthly rent subsidy) in preparation towards self-sufficiency when DHAP ends with the March 2010 rent subsidy payment. PHAs will implement the incremental rent transition by reducing the rental subsidy payment by $50 for the May 2009 rent subsidy payment. This reduction shall be incrementally increased by an additional $50 each month thereafter until the family's participation in DHAP-Ike ends, the rent subsidy amount equals $0, or the program ends with the March 2010 subsidy payment, whichever comes first.

What if I am already under a lease and wish to remain under the existing lease?
The family and owner may also choose to enter into a new lease that commences at the same time as the effective date of the Disaster Rent Subsidy Contract (DRSC). If the family resides in a unit where there is no existing lease and the family wishes to remain in-place, the family and owner must enter into a lease and execute DHAP-Ike lease addendum to receive assistance under DHAP-Ike.

What does case management services consist of and who is required to participate?
Case management services must include a needs assessment, risk assessment, income and assistance assessment and individual development plan (IDP) for each family. The assessments and IDP will guide the service provision to the family for the duration of the familyÕs participation in DHAP. The objective of the case management program is greater self-sufficiency for participating families. PHAs are encouraged to provide case management services to all adult family members age 18 years and older; however, the case management obligation is only required for the head of household.

How did the program start?
The DHAP program was created by FEMA to HUD to assist families that were displaced in the aftermath of Hurricanes Gustav and Ike. For families newly displaced in the aftermath of Hurricanes Gustav and Rita the program will begin November 1, 2008. Families displaced by the recent hurricanes will need to have your lease addendum signed by you and your landlord to participate. Once received by your DHAP participating PHA rental subsidy payments to your landlord will begin.

When does the program end and what happens after that?
The DHAP program will pay your full rent benefits through April 2009. Starting in May 2009, you will have to pay $50 of your total monthly rent payment directly to your landlord out of your own pocket. The amount that you pay directly to the landlord will increase by $50 each month after that. So, you can expect to pay $100 in April 2009, then $150 in July 2009, and so on, until self-sufficiency is achieved or the end of the program in March, 2010.

What if I can't pay my share of the rent after March 2009?
Under the Family Obligations of the DHAP program, HUD and its contractor can disqualify you from the program if you do not fulfill your responsibilities under the program. This includes paying your share of the rent. If you break the terms of your lease with the landlord or do not pay your rent on time, your landlord may start an eviction action against you.

Will HUD be handling the DHAP program locally?
HUD will oversee the program and will contract the local rent payment responsibilities to a public housing authority locally or as assigned by HUD. FEMA will still be the agency to decide who is eligible for the program.

I may need to relocate to find work or to return to Louisiana: Can I stay in the program if I have to move?
HUD will allow families to move only one time outside of local jurisdiction and the rent benefits will be transferred to the HUD contractor in the new area. Families can move within a local area, as long as their new landlord participates in the program.