To address the damages wrought by Hurricane Debby, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development is offering support to homeowners as they recover from what the White House designated a major disaster on Aug. 10.

Hurricane Debby made landfall in northern Florida on Aug. 5, bringing with it heavy rain and tornadoes as it made its way up the eastern coast. Five days later, President Joe Biden’s major disaster declaration for Columbia, Dixie, Gilchrist, Hamilton, Lafayette, Levy, Manatee, Sarasota, Suwannee, and Taylor counties in Florida included grants for temporary housing and home repairs, low-cost loans to cover uninsured property losses, and other programs to help individuals and business owners recover.

“Effective immediately, HUD is providing a 90-day moratorium on foreclosures of mortgages insured by the Federal Housing Administration (FHA) as well as foreclosures of mortgages to Native American borrowers guaranteed under the Section 184 Indian Home Loan Guarantee program,” the agency stated. “There is also a 90-day extension granted automatically for home equity conversion mortgages. The moratorium and extension are effective as of the president’s disaster declaration date.

“Homeowners affected by the disaster should contact their mortgage or loan servicer immediately for assistance,” it added. “Conventional mortgage holders may also be eligible for additional relief through their mortgage holder.”

In addition to the moratorium, HUD reminded the public about other ways the agency supports housing during emergency situations, including:

• Making mortgage insurance available – “When homes are destroyed or damaged to an extent that required reconstruction or complete replacement, HUD’s Section 203(h) program provides FHA insurance to disaster victims. Borrowers from participating FHA approved lenders are eligible for 100 percent financing including closing costs.”
• Making financing available for both mortgage and home rehabilitation – “HUD’s Section 203(k) loan program enables individuals to finance the purchase or refinance of a house, along with its repair, through a single mortgage,” HUD stated. “Homeowners can also finance the rehabilitation of their existing homes if damaged.”
• Sharing information on housing providers and HUD programs – “Information will be shared with FEMA and the state on housing providers that may have available units in the impacted counties, including public housing agencies and multi-family owners. The department will also connect FEMA and the state to subject matter experts to provide information on HUD programs and providers.”
• Providing flexibility to community planning and development grantees – “Recipients of Community Development Block Grant program, Housing Opportunities for Persons With HIV/AIDS program, Continuum of Care program, Emergency Solutions Grants program, HOME program, and Housing Trust Fund program funds can apply for needed administrative flexibility in response to natural disasters.”
• Providing flexibility to public housing agencies – Public housing agencies can apply for needed waivers and flexibilities for disaster relief and recovery.
• Providing flexibility to tribes – Tribes and their tribally designated housing entities can apply for needed administrative flexibility through regulatory waivers.