Renters and homeowners who live in Lincoln, Otero, Rio Arriba and San Juan counties or on the Mescalero Apache Reservation and whose primary residence is uninhabitable or inaccessible, due to the South Fork and Salt Fires and flooding, may be eligible for federal rental assistance for temporary housing. Grants are being made available to eligible New Mexicans through FEMA’s Individuals and Households Program. 

FEMA pays rent, including a security deposit, at a place other than your damaged home. Your rental can be a house, apartment, hotel, or recreational vehicle that can keep you near your job, home, school, and place of worship. The assistance includes essential utilities such as electricity and water, but not cable TV or Internet.  

The approved rental amount will be based on fair market rates for your area as determined by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). As a homeowner or renter, you may qualify for assistance, but you must first apply to FEMA for federal disaster assistance, 

If you receive housing assistance through your insurance company, by federal law, FEMA cannot duplicate housing benefits. However, if you exhaust housing assistance funds from your insurance company, FEMA may then be able to provide you with temporary rental assistance.  

A FEMA inspector must determine that your house or apartment is uninhabitable due to damage caused by the fires and flood which began June 17. If your home is uninhabitable or inaccessible due to a power outage you may be eligible for one month of rental assistance.  

• FEMA assistance is a grant and New Mexicans do not have to repay it.  
• Residents needing more than two months of temporary rental assistance must apply to FEMA for extended assistance and must demonstrate to FEMA their continued financial need.  
• If FEMA cannot meet your housing needs, you may be referred to charitable or volunteer groups in your community for assistance.  

The first step for individuals and households to receive assistance is to apply to FEMA for federal assistance. There are no costs involved to apply for, or receive, FEMA assistance. There are four ways to apply:

• Go online to disasterassistance.gov/
• Download the FEMA Appfor mobile devices at fema.gov/about/news-multimedia/mobile-products
• Call the FEMA Helpline at 800-621-3362 between 5 a.m. and 9 p.m. MT. Help is available in most languages. If you use a relay service, such as video relay (VRS), captioned telephone or other service, give FEMA your number for that service.
• Visit a Disaster Recovery Center operated by the state of New Mexico and FEMA. For location and hours, visit fema.gov/drc

For an accessible video on how to apply for assistance, visit youtube.com/watch= WZGpWI2RCNw.

The deadline to apply for FEMA assistance is Aug. 19, 2024.