PRIA Logo™
119-s-4388119th CongressWALLET

Housing Survivors of Major Disasters Act of 2026

Sponsored By: Senator Warren, Elizabeth [D-MA]

Introduced

Summary

This bill would expand access to disaster housing assistance for people who lack formal property documents. It also creates a simple self-declaration form, broadens what counts as proof of home ties, and pushes FEMA and HUD to coordinate temporary rental help.

Show full summary
  • Families, displaced households, and people living or staying in boardinghouses, bunkhouses, manufactured homes, mobile homes, travel trailers, or who are homeless would be eligible for assistance if they were in the disaster area during the incident period.
  • Owner-occupants without formal title would be allowed to show "constructive ownership" with a wide range of evidence, such as utility bills, school records, deeds, wills, mortgage papers, or medical records, and could use assistance funds to obtain title, land surveys, and related taxes or fees.
  • Applicants who received or sought assistance on or after Jan 1, 2017 would get at least 180 days to submit a declarative statement to reopen or appeal determinations, and the bill would require FEMA to publish the no-notary form in English and Spanish at Disaster Recovery Centers and online and to provide staff guidance within 30 days.

Personalized for You

How does this bill affect your finances?

Personalize government policy and PRIA will tell you what this bill means for your household, plus every other piece of legislation we track. PRIA reads each provision against your financial profile to show you exactly what matters to your wallet.

Free to download

Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

4 provisions identified: 4 benefits, 0 costs, 0 mixed.

Easier rules for repair and rebuilding

If enacted, the bill would change repair and rebuilding eligibility to apply to residences "damaged by a major disaster" rather than only those "rendered uninhabitable." The repair standard would shift to ensuring homes are habitable during longer-term recovery and could coordinate with other repair sources. The President could also authorize repair or rebuilding when it is a cost-effective alternative to other housing solutions, taking temporary housing costs into account.

FEMA and HUD rental consultations

If enacted, FEMA and HUD would have to consult within 60 days after any major disaster declared after enactment about a joint program under section 408 to provide temporary rental assistance. The consultations must consider helping people made eligible by the bill, such as those made homeless or living in nontraditional housing.

More FEMA housing help for survivors

If enacted, this would expand who can get FEMA housing help under section 408 after a presidentially declared major disaster. People who lived in the disaster area during the incident period — including people made homeless and occupants of trailers, boardinghouses, and other nontraditional housing — would be eligible. People who lived on property without formal title would also be eligible if they are not renting, and FEMA would have to accept many kinds of evidence that link you to the property. FEMA could also pay certain costs to obtain a property's title, like land surveys and related taxes or fees. These changes would apply to funds appropriated on or after the date of enactment.

Simpler FEMA forms and appeals

If enacted, the FEMA Administrator would have 30 days to create a plain declarative statement form that applicants can use to self-certify eligibility. FEMA could not require notarization and must publish the form in English and Spanish at all active Disaster Recovery Centers and online in English, Spanish, and locally predominant languages. The form and related rules would be exempt from some publication and OMB review requirements. People who got assistance under section 3 since January 1, 2017 would have at least 180 days after notice to submit the new form to reopen or appeal their cases.

Sponsors & CoSponsors

Sponsor

Warren, Elizabeth [D-MA]

MA • D

Cosponsors

  • Sen. Markey, Edward J. [D-MA]

    MA • D

    Sponsored 4/27/2026

  • Sen. Durbin, Richard J. [D-IL]

    IL • D

    Sponsored 4/27/2026

  • Sen. Klobuchar, Amy [D-MN]

    MN • D

    Sponsored 4/27/2026

  • Sen. Gillibrand, Kirsten E. [D-NY]

    NY • D

    Sponsored 4/27/2026

  • Sen. Van Hollen, Chris [D-MD]

    MD • D

    Sponsored 4/27/2026

  • Sen. Sanders, Bernard [I-VT]

    VT • I

    Sponsored 4/27/2026

  • Sen. Blumenthal, Richard [D-CT]

    CT • D

    Sponsored 4/27/2026

  • Sen. Kaine, Tim [D-VA]

    VA • D

    Sponsored 4/27/2026

  • Sen. Bennet, Michael F. [D-CO]

    CO • D

    Sponsored 4/27/2026

  • Sen. Merkley, Jeff [D-OR]

    OR • D

    Sponsored 4/27/2026

  • Sen. Booker, Cory A. [D-NJ]

    NJ • D

    Sponsored 4/27/2026

  • Sen. Padilla, Alex [D-CA]

    CA • D

    Sponsored 4/27/2026

Roll Call Votes

No roll call votes available for this bill.

View on Congress.gov
Back to Legislation