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Revision 23-1; Effective Jan. 31, 2023
1100 Program Description
Revision 23-1; Effective Jan. 31, 2023
The Federal Assistance to Individuals and Households Program (IHP) is a financial assistance program that responds to people whose needs result from natural or man-made disasters.
The IHP was established by an October 2000 congressional amendment to the Stafford Act. It combines the Individual and Family Grant Program and Disaster Housing Program. The new program has two provisions of assistance:
- Housing Assistance (HA)
- Other Needs Assistance (ONA)
Housing Assistance is 100 percent federally funded and administered by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). Other Needs Assistance is 75 percent federally funded and 25 percent state funded. ONA may be administered as follows:
- Option 1 – solely by FEMA
- Option 2 – jointly by the state and FEMA
- Option 3 – solely by the state
In Texas, ONA is administered jointly (Option 2) by the state and FEMA.
ONA enables states to make grants to individuals and families who, due to a major disaster, are unable to meet their necessary expenses or serious needs. It is intended to provide grants to disaster victims for whom other assistance, including government assistance, is either unavailable or inadequate. The program is not intended to indemnify all disaster losses or to purchase items or services which may be characterized as nonessential, luxury or decorative.
Individuals and Households Program (IHP)
| Housing Assistance 100% Federal Funds |
Other Needs Assistance 75% Federal and 25% State Funds |
|---|---|
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Disaster-related housing assistance for applicants displaced from their pre-disaster primary residences or whose pre-disaster residences are rendered uninhabitable, and who are underinsured or have no insurance to provide for their housing needs. |
Disaster-related assistance for other necessary expenses and serious needs. Assistance is restricted to applicants who have applied for a loan from the Small Business Administration (SBA) and who have been denied for a loan or been approved for a loan that is insufficient to cover the loss. |
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Note: One or more types of housing assistance may be made available to meet the disaster-related needs of individuals and households.
*ID denotes income dependent assistance (contingent on SBA denial).
Forms of Assistance:
Financial — Assistance in the form of a check or electronic funds transfer (EFT)
Direct — Assistance provided directly to applicants that is not a cash grant
1200 Administration
Revision 23-1; Effective Jan. 31, 2023
Texas Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC) administers the 206.110-120 ONA provisions of the IHP program according to federal regulations, primarily 44 CFR, Part 206, published by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). The Texas Disaster Act of 1975 established the Texas Division of Emergency Management (TDEM) as the Governor's authorized representative in disaster planning, response and recovery. Under the state emergency management plan published by TDEM, administration of the ONA is assigned to HHSC. Within HHSC, the program is administered by the Emergency and Risk Management (ERM) of System Support Services (SSS). HHSC regional employees are recruited to support the administration of the program. Temporary workers are hired as needed according to the size and severity of the disaster and released from employment after fulfilling their responsibilities.
1300 Funding
Revision 05-1; Effective October 1, 2004
Funding is 75 percent federal and 25 percent state. The state share comes from the Governor's Disaster Contingency Fund or funds available to the administering agency. Funding for administrative costs is 100 percent federal up to five percent of the federal share of the grants.