Disaster Assistance Fairness Act

This bill makes it easier for people living in condos, housing co-ops, and similar communities to get disaster help. It adds clear definitions for “residential common interest community,” “condominium,” and “housing cooperative,” so these places are treated fairly under federal disaster rules . After a major disaster, the federal government must set rules so debris can be cleared from property owned by these communities when state or local officials say the debris is a threat to safety, health, or the community’s recovery . It also lets disaster aid help pay an owner’s share of fixing essential shared parts of a building—like roofs, exterior walls, heating and cooling, elevators, stairs, utilities, plumbing, and electricity—if those costs are properly documented . These changes apply to disasters declared on or after the day the law takes effect .

Key points:

• Who is affected: People in condos, housing co-ops, and residential common interest communities
• What changes: Faster debris removal after major disasters and help covering an owner’s share of repairs to essential shared building systems
• When it applies: For disasters declared on or after the law’s enactment date