The Disaster Survivors Fairness Act of 2024 aims to make federal disaster assistance easier and fairer for individuals and families recovering from major disasters. It expands FEMA's authority to help pay for home repairs and hazard mitigation upgrades (like flood-proofing) without requiring survivors to first prove they lack other resources, and it improves rental assistance by accounting for post-disaster rent increases. The bill also creates new transparency tools, including a public "individual assistance dashboard" showing application approval and denial rates, and requires FEMA to fund state websites that help disaster survivors find recovery resources. Additionally, it allows FEMA to reimburse local governments for sheltering emergency responders after a disaster, extends a pilot program letting states manage disaster housing assistance, and orders several government studies—covering rental assistance disparities, damage assessment accuracy, and challenges faced by rural and low-income communities—with reports due to Congress within one to two years. Overall, the bill affects disaster survivors, state and local governments, and FEMA operations, with most funding-related provisions taking effect only for money appropriated after the law's enactment.
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