ALBANY, Ga. (WALB) - FEMA is now offering financial assistance for victims of Tropical Storm Debby and Hurricane Helene who need to rent temporary housing.

Georgia residents in the eight designated counties for Tropical Storm Debby and the 63 designated counties for Hurricane Helene can request rental assistance when applying for disaster assistance.

This assistance is for the victims displaced from their primary homes due to the storms.

FEMA Rental Assistance is intended to cover the monthly rent amount, which may include a security deposit, at a place other than your damaged home. Your rental can be near your job, home, school and place of worship. The assistance may include essential utilities such as gas, oil, trash, sewer, electricity, and water, but not cable or internet.

The approved rental amount will be based on fair market rates for your area as determined by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.

The initial award for Rental Assistance may cover up to two months of rent.

If you intend to seek continued rental assistance, you’ll need receipts to show you used the assistance for rent. Survivors should keep receipts for three years.

To be eligible for continued rental assistance, you must meet the following conditions:

• You were awarded initial rental assistance and used it as intended.
• You are unable to return to your home because it cannot be accessed or is not suitable to live in due to the disaster.
• You do not have money for housing without assistance.
• You are not receiving temporary housing help from any other source.
• You provide the status of your permanent housing plan.

The completed application will require these supporting documents:

• Current household income
• Current lease, utility bill, and renter’s insurance information
• Copy of the lease or rental agreement signed by you and the landlord
• Rental receipts, cancelled checks or money orders showing the rental assistance was used to pay for housing expenses
• Show you are developing a permanent housing plan or demonstrate progress toward one. A contractor’s estimate of repairs can point to progress

A permanent housing plan is one that would put you back into permanent, safe, sanitary and functional housing within a reasonable time frame. You must continue to work toward obtaining permanent housing to remain eligible for continued Rental Assistance.

If your housing situation or circumstances change, it’s important to stay in contact with FEMA, as this could impact your eligibility.

If you were initially approved for Rental Assistance, an application for Continued Temporary Housing Assistance may be mailed to you 15 days after the grant is approved. If you do not receive one, please contact FEMA by calling 800-621-3362 or visiting a Disaster Recovery Center.

Return the form to FEMA by either:

• Stopping by a disaster recovery center and uploading to your FEMA Disaster Assistance account
• Uploading it to your FEMA Disaster Assistance account available online at DisasterAssistance.gov
• Mailing the completed form to FEMA, P.O. Box 10055, Hyattsville, MD 20782-8055
• Faxing it to 800-827-8112

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