HUD Announces Disaster Assistance for U.S. Virgin Islands Storm Victims

WASHINGTON, Sept. 21 -- The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development issued the following news release:

U.S. Housing and Urban Development today announced HUD will speed federal disaster assistance to the U.S. Virgin Islands and provide support to homeowners and low-income renters forced from their homes due to Hurricane Maria.

Today, President Trump issued a major disaster declaration (https://www.whitehouse.gov/the-press-office/2017/09/21/president-donald-j-trump-approves-us-virgin-islands-disaster-declaration) for St. Croix Island. The President's declaration allows HUD to offer foreclosure relief and other assistance to certain families living on this island.

HUD is:

* Granting immediate foreclosure relief - HUD granted a 90-day moratorium on foreclosures and forbearance on foreclosures of Federal Housing Administration (FHA)-insured home mortgages. There are approximately 593 FHA-insured U.S. Virgin Islands homeowners living in these impacted islands.

* Making mortgage insurance available - HUD's Section 203(h) program provides FHA insurance to disaster victims who have lost their homes and are facing the daunting task of rebuilding or buying another home. Borrowers from participating FHA-approved lenders are eligible for 100 percent financing, including closing costs;

* Making insurance available for both mortgages and home rehabilitation - HUD's Section 203(k) loan program enables those who have lost their homes to finance the purchase or refinance of a house along with its repair through a single mortgage. It also allows homeowners who have damaged houses to finance the rehabilitation of their existing single-family home;

* Information on housing providers and HUD programs - The Department will share information with FEMA and the State on housing providers that may have available units in the impacted counties. This includes 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.

* Assisting the U.S. Virgin Islands and local governments in re-allocating existing federal resources toward disaster relief - HUD's Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) and HOME programs give the State and communities the flexibility to redirect millions of dollars in annual formula funding to address critical needs, including housing and services for disaster victims. HUD is currently contacting State and local officials to explore streamlining the Department's CDBG and HOME programs in order to expedite the repair and replacement of damaged housing; and,

* Offering Section 108 loan guarantee assistance - HUD will offer state and local governments federally guaranteed loans for housing rehabilitation, economic development and repair of public infrastructure.

Read about these and other HUD programs designed to assist disaster victims (https://www.hud.gov/info/disasterresources).