FEMA Advisory: FEMA Extends Emergency Non-Congregate Sheltering Assistance (January 29, 2021)

Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) sent this bulletin at 01/29/2021 02:27 PM EST

FEMA Advisory


FEMA's Extends Emergency Non-Congregate Sheltering Assistance 

 

FEMA is extending the Emergency Non-Congregate Sheltering during the COVID-19 Public Health Emergency (interim) policy until June 30, 2021.

Today, FEMA announced the extension of the Emergency Non-Congregate Sheltering during the COVID-19 Public Health Emergency (interim) policy until June 30, 2021. This policy affirms FEMA commitment to protect the public health by reimbursing state, tribal and territorial governments part of the cost of providing non-congregate sheltering to displaced disaster survivors.

Typically, displaced disaster survivors are sheltered in congregate facilities with large open spaces, such as schools, churches, community centers, or similar facilities rather than in non-congregate environments, which are locations where each individual or household has living space that offers some level of privacy such as hotels, motels, or dormitories. FEMA recognizes sheltering operations during the COVID-19 Public Health Emergency may require states, tribes and territories to consider additional strategies to ensure that survivors are sheltered in a manner that does not increase the risk of exposure to or further transmission of COVID-19. After a Stafford Act declaration, states, tribes and territories may be eligible for reimbursement of costs associated with non-congregate sheltering.

In the spring of 2020, as a result of the Coronavirus (COVID-19) emergency declaration and subsequent major disaster declarations for COVID-19, FEMA established a policy that allowed state, local, tribal and territorial governments to apply for reimbursement of costs associated with non-congregate sheltering of disaster survivors under the FEMA Public Assistance program. The policy was scheduled to end on Dec. 31, 2020. However, due to the continuing need to protect public safety during the COVID-19 pandemic, FEMA has extended this policy until June 30, 2021.

In addition to extending the timeframe for consideration of reimbursement for non-congregate sheltering the updated interim policy includes supplementary guidance clarifying criteria for processing time extension requests, identifying specific data and reporting necessary to assist in the effective management and eventual transition of sheltered populations into other forms of recovery assistance and identifying specific work and cost eligibility requirements.

FEMA regularly reviews program policies and guidance to ensure that state, local, tribal and territorial partners have the best guidance available and to ensure the appropriate use of federal funding. FEMA is committed to continuing to support the American people in responding to the COVID-19 pandemic.

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