Community Development Block Grant

• Plumbing Manufacturers International today expressed its support for the Biden-Harris administration’s new actions to support the conversion of high-vacancy commercial buildings to residential use.
• The actions will prioritize the creation of much-needed residential housing that is affordable, energy-efficient, greenhouse gas-reducing, and near transit and good jobs.
• “Plumbing Manufacturers International’s member companies stand ready to contribute to the creation of these new residences,” said PMI CEO and Executive Director Kerry Stackpole.
• A commercial to zero emissions housing toolkit from the Department of Energy’s Better Buildings Initiative that includes technical and financial guidance on how to achieve zero emissions commercial to residential conversions.

• Residents in communities hit by Hurricane Idalia, the Maui fires or other recent disasters have a long, tough journey ahead.
• I am a law professor who focuses on disaster recovery and preparedness and has created several legal clinics to assist survivors.

Declaring a disaster

• The level of damage will determine whether the president approves a major disaster declaration or simply an emergency declaration.
• That information is then used to determine the extent of the disaster, its impact on infrastructure and the type of aid needed in the request for a federal disaster declaration.
• Once the federal government issues an emergency or major disaster declaration, individuals can apply for disaster recovery funding.

Documenting the damage

• Amid the grief and the rush to find temporary housing and rebuild lives, it can be hard to focus on meticulously documenting what was lost and dealing with insurance.
• As soon as possible, disaster survivors should take photos of the damage and record every affected area of their property.
• That includes capturing details of damage to structures, personal belongings, vehicles and any medical equipment.
• FEMA recently amended its policy to also allow affidavits to prove ownership of homes passed down through generations, known as heirship property.

Finding disaster aid

• People generally have four options for aid: insurance coverage, FEMA benefits, community or nonprofit funding, and private funding, including loans.
• Disaster survivors must apply for their relevant insurance payouts before FEMA will pay benefits.
• The agency provides up to $41,000 for housing assistance after emergencies or disaster declarations.
• To cover the costs that go beyond FEMA’s limits, survivors may need to secure private loans or disaster loans, such as Small Business Administration disaster loans, to bridge the gap.

Community partnerships are crucial

• Amid the complexities of disaster recovery, the importance of community planning and collaboration cannot be overstated.
• These disaster recovery centers can be the cornerstone for long-term recovery groups that help a community both recover and build resilience.
• Five years after Hurricane Maria, community groups were still on the ground in Puerto Rico providing aid and resources to the local community.

• The NSO medical respite program will be located in the recently completed Detroit Healthy Housing Center on the city's east side, which pairs emergency shelter with wraparound health care and support services.
• The medical respite program and the 22,000-square-foot Detroit Healthy Housing Center are critical to efforts to end chronic homelessness in southeast Michigan, and the co-location of related services will help achieve better medical respite program outcomes.
• The five partners developed interconnected agreements designed to ensure stable revenue for the medical respite program and to unlock financing that NSO can access for program expansion.
• Investments from The Kresge Foundation and the Rocket Community Fund will jumpstart medical respite program operations and the first phase of the program's growth.

• Ceylon strengthens the rapidly expanding TFG Grants Team's federal funding offerings.
• LINCOLN, Neb., April 27, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The TFG Grants Team is pleased to welcome Ceylon J. Herath as the newest TFG Grants Researcher/Analyst.
• Ceylon brings local government, public sector, community and economic development, federal grant writing, corporate communications, and litigation experience to help support TFG Grants team services.
• "I'm excited to be a part of the TFG Grants Team," said Ceylon.