1、Congressional Research Service The Library of CongressCRS Report for CongressReceived through the CRS WebOrder Code RS22301October 18, 2005Rural Housing: USDA Disaster Relief ProvisionsBruce E. FooteAnalyst in HousingDomestic Social Policy DivisionSummaryWhen disasters occur, such as Hurricane Katri
2、na, the U.S. Department ofAgriculture (USDA) provides housing relief to residents of the affected areas in generaland to affected participants in the various USDA rural housing programs. This reportprovides an overview of those housing relief efforts. Assistance can be placed in threebroad categorie
3、s: (1) relief for homeowners and homebuyers; (2) relief for apartmentdwellers; and (3) and relief for multi-family property owners.For Section 521 rental assistance allocated to housing made uninhabitable byHurricane Katrina or Hurricane Rita, H.R. 3895, as passed by the House on October 6,2005, wou
4、ld amend the Housing Act of 1949 to permit the conversion of the rentalassistance into either Section 8 vouchers or rural housing vouchers. The bill wouldamend the law to permit Section 502 guarantee loans to be used for the repair orrehabilitation of existing properties.This report will be updated
