SAVANNAH, Ga. (WSAV) — If Hurricane Helene majorly damaged or destroyed your home, the State of Georgia may be able to temporarily house you with a new program.
The Georgia Emergency Management and Homeland Security Agency (GEMA/HS) announced on Tuesday that they are launching Housing Emergency Assistance and Recovery Through Sheltering (HEARTS) program.
GEMA said that the temporary shelter program will be available for residents, located in one of the counties declared for FEMA's assistance programs, if their residences were "majorly damaged, destroyed, or deemed not habitable."
Georgia residents who can't relocate to rental homes or apartments will be placed in hotels or motels. You have to apply to FEMA for Individual Assistance to be considered from the program.
To be eligible for the program, GEMA said that must:
- Be registered with FEMA
- Be seeking shelter in their eligible county
- Have a home that is majorly damaged, destroyed, or not habitable
- Agree to the program terms
For more information, please call the HEARTS Georgia Program Contact Center at 833-575-4411.
Individuals may also email GEMA/HS's Community Recovery Department at community.recovery@gema.ga.gov for more details.