The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) has announced the implementation of federal disaster assistance for West Virginia following severe weather events that occurred from April 2 to April 6, 2024. President Biden issued a major disaster declaration affecting the counties of Boone, Cabell, Fayette, Kanawha, Lincoln, Marshall, Nicholas, Ohio, Putnam, Wayne, and Wetzel.
Effective immediately, HUD is implementing several measures to assist affected residents:
1. A 90-day moratorium on foreclosures of mortgages insured by the Federal Housing Administration (FHA) and mortgages guaranteed under the Section 184 Indian Home Loan Guarantee program. There is also an automatic 90-day extension for Home Equity Conversion Mortgages.
Homeowners are encouraged to contact their mortgage or loan servicer for assistance. Conventional mortgage holders may also be eligible for additional relief through their mortgage holder. For more information, individuals can call the FHA Resource Center at 1-800-304-9320 or visit the FHA Disaster Relief site.
2. Making mortgage insurance available through HUD’s Section 203(h) program for homes that require reconstruction or complete replacement due to damage.
3. Offering insurance for both mortgage and home rehabilitation through HUD's Section 203(k) loan program.
4. Sharing information with FEMA and the State about housing providers with available units in impacted counties and connecting them with subject matter experts on HUD programs.
5. Providing administrative flexibility to recipients of Community Development Block Grant (CDBG), Housing Opportunities for Persons With HIV/AIDS (HOPWA), Continuum of Care (CoC), Emergency Solutions Grants (ESG), HOME Program, and Housing Trust Fund (HTF) funds in response to natural disasters.
6. Allowing Public Housing Agencies to apply for waivers and flexibilities necessary for disaster relief and recovery.
7. Enabling Tribes and their Tribally Designated Housing Entities to apply for regulatory waivers needed for administrative flexibility.
8. Ensuring HUD-approved housing counseling agencies are prepared to assist those impacted by natural disasters in determining their assistance needs and available resources.
9. Addressing housing discrimination issues that may arise following a disaster through HUD's Office of Fair Housing and Equal Opportunity.
Individuals who believe they have experienced housing discrimination should file a fair housing complaint with HUD by calling 1-800-669-9777 or visiting HUD’s website. Assistance is available in multiple languages, including services for individuals who are deaf or hard of hearing via the Federal Relay Service at 1-800-877-8339.
