LeadingAge hosted a call for affordable senior housing members on December 4, featuring guests from the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) who spearhead the agency’s disaster preparedness and response efforts. In 2023, HUD’s Multifamily team supported nearly 170,000 disaster-impacted homes across the country.

During the call, HUD staff reviewed the agency’s process for supporting properties in the aftermath of a disaster, including the impact of a FEMA emergency declaration that includes individual assistance. The HUD team, called the Multifamily Housing Disaster Response Team, added permanent positions last year to shore up efforts to provide asset management servicing support during a disaster event. Before the staffing change, HUD staff responsible for property support after a disaster were often themselves impacted by the disaster and had less capacity to respond.

Resident Disaster Response Behavior

HUD reviewed how to navigate resident behavior during and after a disaster, including in instances where self-evacuation is not feasible for residents or where sheltering in place is preferred because of pet restrictions or COVID concerns at public shelters.

HUD Guidance and Resources

HUD staff also shared that they are in the process of updating Chapter 38, HUD’s disaster response handbook chapter. According to HUD staff, the re-write will clarify current guidance and enhance preparedness requirements for housing providers.

The call also reviewed HUD’s recently-developed disaster preparedness plan template for MF housing providers. The template was developed for housing communities applying for funding through HUD’s Green and Resilient Retrofit Program (GRRP), but the template has been made available to any housing provider. The extensive plan template provides checklists, resiliency considerations, and resources for residents and staff.

Lastly, HUD reviewed how housing providers can adjust tenant selection plans to create preferences for disaster-displaced applicants.

The call recording is available for LeadingAge members.