By Pacific Island Times News Staff
The Guam Association of REALTORS® has launched the Guam REALTORS® Housing Relief Assistance Program through the grant received from the REALTORS® Relief Foundation in providing financial support to homeowners and renters who have been impacted by Typhoon Mawar.
Recognizing the importance of stability and security in housing, the Guam REALTORS® Housing Relief Assistance Program is designed to assist individuals and families in maintaining their homes and fostering a resilient community.
Through the program, eligible residents will have the opportunity to apply for housing relief assistance, such as monthly mortgage payments for homeowners whose primary residence was damaged, or rental expenses or hotel reimbursement due to displacement from the primary residence.
The association has scheduled in-person application dates at the Micronesia Mall on July 15, 22 and 29 from noon to 5 p.m. The first 100 applicants will be seen per the scheduled date.
Jodee Duenas, GAR president, said the Housing Relief Assistance Program "exemplifies our commitment to serving our community. We understand the challenges faced by residents, and we are here to provide the necessary support and resources to help them overcome these difficulties. Our goal is to ensure that every homeowner or renter in Guam has the opportunity to thrive and maintain a stable living environment."
Homeowners or Renters seeking assistance for more information about the Guam REALTORS® Housing Relief Assistance Program are encouraged to visit the program's official website at guamrealtors.com or contact the Guam Association of REALTORS® office directly at (671) 477-7271.ADVERTISEMENT
The Office of the Governor announced that renters whose dwellings sustained damage or loss from Typhoon Mawar can also apply for federal disaster assistance.
While renters are not eligible for FEMA financial assistance for home repair, they may still qualify for certain FEMA individual assistance programs.
FEMA disaster assistance may help renters pay for temporary housing. Initial rental assistance is for a one-month or two-month period and can be reviewed for further assistance.
Renters may also qualify for assistance under FEMA’s Other Needs Assistance program for uninsured essential personal property losses and other disaster-related expenses.
These may include:
Replacement or repair of necessary personal property, such as furniture, appliances, clothing, textbooks, or school supplies.
Replacement or repair of tools and other job-related equipment required by the self-employed.
Primary vehicles.
Uninsured or out-of-pocket medical, dental, childcare, moving and storage expenses.
People with disabilities may be eligible for financial assistance to replace disability equipment (i.e., wheelchairs, hearing aids, etc.) if the items were damaged or lost due to the disaster.
Applicants who apply for disaster assistance from FEMA may be referred to the U.S. Small Business Administration for information on how to apply for a disaster loan. It is important to submit the loan application as soon as possible. If your application is approved, you do not have to accept the loan, but failure to return the application may disqualify you from other possible FEMA assistance.
To obtain more information about SBA disaster loans, call the SBA’s Customer Service Center at 1-800-659- 2955. If you are deaf, hard of hearing, or have a speech disability, please dial 7-1-1 to access telecommunications relay services or email DisasterCustomerService@sba.gov.
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