Help With Rent: Continued Temporary Housing Assistance for Vermonters Affected by Floods

2023 Vermont Flooding - Updated 4/29/2024

What is Continued Temporary Housing Assistance (CTHA)?

• If you cannot return to your home due to disaster damage and you need help paying for a place to stay while you search for permanent housing, FEMA may give you CTHA. This is an extension of the initial Rental Assistance granted right after the July 2023 disaster.
• CTHA is available for 18 months from the date the disaster is declared. In Vermont, CTHA will be available through January 14, 2025. If the 18-month financial period of assistance is extended, the number of eligible months of Rental Assistance will also be extended.
• If you are eligible for CTHA, the money will be sent to you via check or via direct deposit into your bank account (if you are enrolled).

Who is eligible for Continued Temporary Housing Assistance?

• You must meet these conditions to get CTHA:
  • You got initial Rental Assistance.
  • You used up all the awarded Rental Assistance for its intended use.
  • You are unable to return to your pre-disaster residence because it is uninhabitable, inaccessible, or not available due to the disaster.
  • You do not have the financial ability to get housing without help.
  • You are not getting assistance from any other source for temporary housing.

How do I apply and what do I need to submit for CTHA?

• To apply, fill out the Application for Continued Temporary Housing Assistance.

• You must also submit copies of your housing expenses, which may include:
  • Homeowner expenses for damaged home
    • Mortgage statement, real estate tax statement, and homeowners’ insurance (if paid separately from mortgage).
    • If you still have essential utility expenses at your damaged home, see more info on how to include them under Temporary Housing Costs below.
  • Temporary housing costs
    • Lease/rental agreement:
      • The lease or rental agreement must include the location of your home, amount of rent, length of lease, and number of occupants.
      • The lease must be signed by you or your co-applicant and the landlord.
    • Rent receipts:
      • Receipts must show the date, location of the rental unit or home, and time period for which the rent payment applies. Also include receipts for any security deposit you paid.
      • Receipts must show that you used the FEMA Rental Assistance money for temporary housing. This includes expenses for hotels, motels, or other temporary housing.
    • Essential utilities:
      • Bills or receipts for any gas, propane, electric, oil, trash, water, and sewer expenses you pay at your temporary home.
      • If you are a homeowner who pays utilities at both your damaged home and your temporary rental home, include the total amount you pay for each utility. Send bills or receipts for each.

Other resources

• FEMA video: This video provides more information about Continued Temporary Housing Assistance. Please note that this video references the Hawaii wildfires. However, the information applies to Vermont as well.

Need help?

Call us at 1-800-889-2047 and press option 4 for our flood-related hotline.

Return to our main 2023 Flooding page