INDIVIDUAL ASSISTANCE PROGRAM

 

STATE INDIVIDUAL ASSISTANCE PROGRAM

The State Individual Assistance Program is authorized under Arkansas Code Annotated 12-75-101 et.al.

The Arkansas Department of Emergency Management and the Arkansas Department of Human Services jointly administer the State Individual Assistance Program. Through the development of damage surveys and a declaration from the County Judge the State of Arkansas may offer disaster assistance. This aid is for qualified homeowners/renters whose primary residence was damaged in a declared designated area. If the damages exceed the capabilities of the local government a state declaration will be requested through the Governor’s Office. The State of Arkansas disaster assistance covers basic needs only and will not normally compensate you for your entire loss. If you have insurance, the State of Arkansas may help pay for basic needs not covered under your insurance policy.

Below are two programs that will be made available to Arkansas Citizens.

 

TEMPORARY HOUSING ASSISTANCE

The Arkansas Department of Emergency Management (ADEM) administers the Temporary Housing Assistance Grant Program. This program is for individuals whose primary residence was destroyed or made uninhabitable as a result of a disaster. The program is funded by the Governor’s Disaster Fund.

The program offers one month of assistance for pre-disaster renters and up to three months assistance for pre-disaster homeowners. If a victim has homeowner’s insurance and their policy allows for Additional Living Expenses (ALE), they are ineligible for state assistance until the ALE is depleted. However, there is usually a 10-day period in which to apply for temporary housing, and those individuals with ALE should also apply at that time. The state will assess the individual’s needs and Temporary Housing Assistance will be offered to those individuals who are eligible.

 

INDIVIDUAL AND FAMILY GRANT PROGRAM

The Individual and Family Grant Program is administered by the Arkansas Department of Human Services (DHS), with funds from the Governor’s State Disaster Fund. The Governor must declare the specific counties disaster areas. The program assists disaster victims with serious needs or necessary expenses that were incurred as a result of the disaster. Please us this link to choose your counties DHS office.

Eligible categories concerning uninsured losses include:

§        Assisting in the repair or replacement of the primary residence

§        Repair/replacement of personal property

§        Essential transportation

§        Funeral expenses

§        Medical expenses

 

To receive funding for the repair or replacement of a primary residence, the individual must prove ownership with a copy of the deed. Two bids are then obtained from separate contractors, broken down into materials and labor costs.

Repair or replacement of personal property requires a statement from a retailer as to whether the item is repairable. If it is, one bid is obtained from a retailer for repair. If it is not repairable, one bid is obtained from a retailer for replacement of the item. These funds can be used to refurbish one living room, one bedroom, one dining room, one kitchen and one bathroom. Clothing replacement is also included, as is storage of items if temporary housing is needed. Storage will be for the duration of temporary housing only.

Repair or replacement of essential transportation (cosmetic repairs not included), sanitation of the home or debris removal (if deemed a health hazard), and outstanding medical or funeral expenses not covered by insurance or burial policies are eligible for funding from the Individual and Family Grant Program.

The application period is normally 10 days. After all of the necessary paperwork is complete and the application is approved, individuals should receive their checks within 7-10 days.

To apply for an Individual and Family Grant, a disaster victim must first call the announced local office and make an appointment with the local Department of Human Services office. During the actual appointment, a DHS employee will fill out an application with the affected individual for an Individual or Family Grant and complete the worksheets associated with the grant application.

The maximum Individual and Family Grant for a state declared disaster is $3,982, which may increase each year as the consumer price index increases

 

 

 

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