Housing after a disaster

Tonight, find a shelter through the Red Cross map or 211. Then apply to FEMA for rental or hotel help if your area is declared, and call your landlord or mortgage servicer in writing.

Updated Oct. 10, 2026 · Sources linked throughout

Tonight: a safe place to stay

Find an open Red Cross shelter by address or ZIP on the Red Cross shelter map, or text SHELTER and your ZIP to 43362.
Dial 211 to ask about shelters, hotels and local housing help near you.

FEMA housing help

If your county is in a presidentially declared disaster with Individual Assistance, FEMA may help with uninsured housing costs for your primary home (not second or vacation homes). (FEMA: Assistance for Housing and Other Needs)

Rent: money to rent somewhere to live if the disaster displaced you.
Lodging expense reimbursement: money back for emergency hotel or motel costs while you were displaced.
Home repair or replacement: for owners, money toward repairs to make the home livable.
Other needs: FEMA can also help with essentials, child care, moving and storage, and some medical or funeral costs caused by the disaster.

Apply at DisasterAssistance.gov, by phone at 1-800-621-3362, or at a Disaster Recovery Center. If you have insurance, file your claim first; FEMA needs your settlement or denial letter for some help. FEMA must be able to verify your identity, and applications are made under penalty of perjury.

If you rent

Tell your landlord or property manager about the damage in writing, keep a copy, and photograph everything, including your own belongings.
Renters can apply to FEMA too: help for your belongings and a place to stay doesn't depend on owning the home.
If you live in HUD-assisted housing, HUD says you have the right to decent, safe housing and timely repairs. Report problems to your property manager first, then your local housing agency or HUD. (HUD: Resident Rights)

Tenant rights vary by state and city. Whether you still owe rent on a damaged unit, whether you can end a lease, and how quickly repairs must be made all depend on your state and local law and your lease. For your situation, call your local legal aid office or your state attorney general's consumer office, or ask 211 for free legal help.

If you own: mortgage help

Call your servicer right away. Ask about forbearance, which lets you pause or reduce payments for a time. You still owe the full amount and repay it later, so ask exactly how and when. (CFPB: What is mortgage forbearance?)
FHA loans: in a presidentially declared major disaster area, HUD says lenders must stop or delay starting foreclosure for 90 days for affected borrowers who are behind. If you're current, keep paying. (HUD Disaster Resources)
Free counseling: a HUD-approved housing counselor can help with any mortgage type, at 1-800-569-4287.

Every program and phone number on this page was checked against the official agency page linked next to it on Oct. 10, 2026. Programs depend on disaster declarations and can change; confirm on the official page before you act.

Common questions

Can renters get FEMA help?

Yes. FEMA housing assistance is for your primary residence, whether you own or rent. It can include money for rent if you're displaced and reimbursement for hotel or motel costs, if your area is in a presidentially declared disaster with Individual Assistance.

Do I have to file with insurance before FEMA?

FEMA says you may qualify even if you have insurance, but you must file a claim with your insurer and send FEMA the settlement or denial letter for some kinds of help.

Can my mortgage payments be paused after a disaster?

Ask your mortgage servicer about forbearance. CFPB explains that forbearance temporarily pauses or reduces payments, but you still owe the full amount and repay it later. Some servicers require you to ask within a set time after a disaster.

Is a free housing counselor available?

Yes. HUD says HUD-approved housing counseling agencies can help no matter what type of mortgage you have, and foreclosure prevention counseling is always free. Call 1-800-569-4287.