Short Term and Long Term Replacement Housing After registration, a FEMA housing specialist will contact all those who may need
temporary housing, generally homeowners with more than $10,000 in damage and renters whose units are no longer habitable. If needed, FEMA will provide the family with referrals to available rentals in their area. The FEMA housing portal is at: Households may also be able to obtain lists of available rentals at their local Disaster Resource Center.
Vermonters may also call 2-1-1 to learn more about resources that may be
available to help with housing. Individuals in counties without a federal individual assistance declaration should also call 2-1-1.
In certain instances, the Vermont State Housing Authority may make subsidized
housing or housing payment assistance available to individuals and families affected by a natural disaster. Resources of this sort are likely to be limited, so clients should be encouraged to contact the agency as soon as possible at 802-828-3295 as soon as possible.
Vermonters with disabilities in need of temporary or permanent substitute housing
have an additional resource available: the Vermont Center for Independent Living, 1-800- 639-1522. People needing accessible housing because of disability can also contact the Vermont State Housing Authority at 802-828-3295 or online at
www.vsha.org for a reference to a local housing agency with available housing suitable for persons with disabilities. FEMA has staff dedicated to helping homeseekers with disabilities find new housing to meet their needs.
Frequently Asked Questions for Renters
1. Must I continue paying rent even though my apartment has been completely destroyed or severely damaged?
Under Vermont law, you are not required to pay rent if your property is destroyed or so damaged as to render it uninhabitable. Give your landlord notice that you are vacating the apartment. You may move out, stop paying rent, and you are entitled to have your security deposit returned.
2. May I withhold payment of rent because of the disaster or because the landlord has failed to timely repair the dwelling after the disaster?
If the landlord fails to correct the defects in a reasonable period of time, the tenant should contact her local Town Health Officer, the Department of Public Safety, or the Agency of Natural Resources, as applicable. These officials can document the nature of the problems in the dwelling and the degree of hazard, giving notice to the landlord of the conditions and setting a deadline for repairs. If the landlord continues to ignore the poor conditions, the tenant should give the landlord
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