The Federal Government continues to provide coordinated, long-term housing solutions for citizens displaced by natural disasters. To address the long-term needs of families displaced by Hurricanes Katrina and Rita that struck the Louisiana and Mississippi Gulf Coast in 2007, and then those in Texas and Louisiana who were affected by Hurricane Ike in 2008, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) created the Disaster Housing Assistance Program (DHAP).

 

When a disaster strikes, the governors of the affected states request assistance from the Federal Government. The President will then declare the affected areas a "Disaster Area." Once a presidential disaster declaration occurs, a variety of federal assistance is initiated including grants for temporary housing and home repairs, low-cost loans to cover uninsured property losses, and other programs to help individuals and business owners recover from the effects of the disaster.

DHAP is just such a program. As a designated Public Housing Agency, Eastern Carolina Human Services Agency, Inc. manages the DHAP Program for families that were displaced from their homes and are now residing in Onslow and Duplin Counties of North Carolina.

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For more information about the Disaster Housing Assistance Program, go to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) DHAP website.