FEMA Temporary Housing Units Authorized for Sale to Eligible Occupants

AUSTIN, Texas, Nov. 30 -- The U.S. Department of Homeland Security's Federal Emergency Management Agency issued the following news release:

At the request of the State of Texas, certain Hurricane Harvey survivors living in FEMA temporary housing units (THUs) administered by the Texas General Land Office will be offered the opportunity to purchase their current unit.

To be eligible to purchase a THU, which includes manufactured housing units and travel-trailers, the survivor must lack a permanent housing solution, through no fault of their own. Applicants may only purchase a THU in which they currently reside.

Applicants must be in compliance with the conditions of the Revocable License they signed upon initially moving into the THU, and they must agree to insure the unit, including hazard and flood insurance.

The units will be sold "as is, where is," with no implied warranties. The buyer must accept all costs required to bring the THU into compliance with local codes and ordinances. Local governments may choose not to participate in the sales program, in which case sales will not be available in those jurisdictions.

All eligible applicants will receive a letter, asking if they wish to purchase their current THU. Each interested applicant will be handled on a case-by-case basis.

If an applicant received repair or replacement funds from FEMA, those funds may be used to purchase the THU.

Upon completion of a sale, the applicant and/or members of the applicant's household will no longer be eligible to receive FEMA housing assistance for that declared event. If an applicant chooses not to participate in the sales program, it will not affect their eligibility for further housing assistance.

Each unit's sale price will be based on a formula that considers the unit type, the number of bedrooms and the number of months the applicant lived in the unit. Applicants who are unable to afford the sale price may appeal that price, but no THU will be sold for less than 25 percent of the unit's adjusted fair market value.

Applicants with questions can call 855-336-2003 or fax 512-490-1248.

For additional information on Hurricane Harvey and Texas recovery, visit the Hurricane Harvey disaster web page at www.fema.gov/disaster/4332, Facebook at www.facebook.com/FEMAharvey, the FEMA Region 6 Twitter account at www.twitter.com/FEMARegion6, the Texas Division of Emergency Management website at www.dps.texas.gov/dem or the Texas General Land Office website at www.glo.texas.gov.