What is the DHAP program?
Effective September 1, 2007, the U.S. Department of Housing & Urban Development (HUD) will begin rolling out a program known as DHAP – short for Disaster Housing Assistance Program.

The DHAP program will replace the existing FEMA rental-subsidy program, which currently assists approximately 40,000 families affected by Hurricanes Katrina and Rita.

The DHAP program is the result of an interagency agreement between HUD and FEMA. It is designed to move families currently receiving rental-assistance toward self sufficiency.

How do families qualify for the DHAP program?
All families currently receiving rental-housing assistance through FEMA are eligible for the DHAP program; however they must enroll to begin receiving benefits. Families can contact the DHAP Center for program enrollment information.

How will HUD administer the DHAP program?
HUD will administer DHAP at the local level through its extensive network of public housing agencies or through an assigned Housing Authority – which will take over payment of all rental subsidies from FEMA and its existing contractor (CLC).

What will landlords need to do to facilitate the transition to DHAP?
The transition to DHAP will require landlords to visit the DHAP Center to complete four tasks:

How will payments work after the transition to DHAP?
The DHAP program pays a portion of each family's monthly rent directly to landlords. It runs through March 2009, when it permanently concludes.

Each family is required to pay the remaining portion of its total monthly rent directly to its landlord. This amount will increase incrementally by $50 each month.

Can landlords request a rent-increase during the DHAP program?
Landlords should be aware that any request for a rent-increase will be subject to rent reasonableness.

Who is responsible for collecting the tenant co-payments once they go into effect?
Landlords will be responsible for collecting all co-payments directly from their tenants each month.

Can families move to a new apartment under DHAP?
Yes … the program will allow families participating in DHAP to move one time. This includes moving within local area or moving to other cities within and outside of their state. If the family is moving the destination city must have a Public Housing Authority participating in the DHAP program. The families are responsible for any penalties related to breaking their leases; DHAP does not cover such penalties.

Are FEMA-program landlords required to participate in the DHAP program?
No … FEMA-program landlords are not required to participate in the DHAP program. If a landlord chooses not to participate in the program, the family must move to a new property that is participating in the program. The Housing Authority will assist such families in finding a qualified property.

What else will change under the DHAP program?
There are other changes under the DHAP program designed to help families make the transition from rental-subsidies to full self sufficiency. First and foremost, the Housing Authority will assign each family a mandatory caseworker to help it with financial education, job training and social services.

The caseworker will also help the family understand their responsibilities as participants in the DHAP program.

I have tenants that are participating in HUD’s Disaster Voucher Program (also known as DVP). Do they need to transition to the DHAP program?
No … HUD’s DVP program is a separate program that assists families in the area – mostly the elderly and disabled, or people who were on Section-8 assistance prior to Hurricanes Katrina and Rita. The DVP program is administered separately from the DHAP program and rental-assistance payments will continue as they always have until the DVP program ends.