When a disaster damages your home or makes it unsafe to return, finding a temporary place to stay can become an immediate priority. Depending on the disaster and where you live, help may be available through FEMA, state and local agencies, emergency shelters, nonprofit organizations, and community referral services.
Temporary housing assistance can include emergency shelter, short-term lodging, rental assistance, hotel or motel costs, or other temporary housing options. The type of help available depends on the disaster, your location, your housing situation, insurance coverage, and whether the disaster has received an official declaration.
Who May Qualify
Eligibility depends on the specific program, but assistance may be available to people who:
- Had their primary home damaged by a disaster
- Cannot safely live in their home
- Have been ordered to evacuate
- Need temporary shelter after a wildfire, hurricane, flood, tornado, earthquake, or other disaster
- Are temporarily displaced because utilities or access to the home have been disrupted
- Do not have adequate insurance coverage for temporary housing expenses
- Need help finding emergency shelter or short-term housing
- Are experiencing homelessness or housing instability following a disaster
FEMA's Individual Assistance programs can potentially provide temporary housing help to eligible disaster survivors, including rental assistance, lodging expense reimbursement, and, when approved for a particular disaster, certain forms of direct temporary housing.
Check What You May Qualify For
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Programs vary based on your location, disaster, household circumstances, housing situation, and insurance.
Types of Temporary Housing Help
Depending on your circumstances, you may find help through:
- Emergency shelters providing an immediate safe place to stay after an evacuation
- Hotel or motel assistance, including FEMA lodging expense reimbursement
- Temporary rental assistance when your primary residence is uninhabitable or inaccessible
- Temporary housing units, such as manufactured housing or leased properties, for certain declared disasters
- Local disaster housing programs through state agencies, nonprofits, and community organizations
How Temporary Disaster Housing Assistance Typically Works
- Get to a safe location first, following evacuation instructions and using an available emergency shelter.
- Document the damage with photographs or videos when it is safe to do so.
- Check whether the disaster has been officially declared, since federal disaster assistance is generally tied to specific declared disasters and eligibility rules.
- Apply for available disaster assistance through DisasterAssistance.gov when assistance is available for your area.
- Contact your insurance company and then 211, since local specialists can help identify shelters, housing resources, and other disaster assistance in your community.
You should still check available disaster assistance even if you have homeowners or renters insurance. Insurance may cover some temporary living expenses, but FEMA assistance may be available for eligible needs that are not adequately covered.