The STEP program was developed by FEMA under Public Category Assistance B – Emergency Protective Measures as a strategy to move disaster survivors from shelters, temporary living arrangements, and hotel/motel rentals back into their homes in a safe and sanitary manner. The purpose of the program is to perform minimal yet critical repairs to render dwellings habitable, enabling residents to remain in or return to their homes instead of using congregate shelters.
Tidal Basin Program Capabilities:
- Designed program policies and procedures in accordance with FEMA disaster policy.
- Inspected home structures and interviewed applicants for program eligibility and to develop construction scopes of work.
- Created applications for homeowners, along with supporting technology infrastructure and databases to receive, track, and close out all applicants.
- Supplied work orders and estimates for FEMA’s designated construction firms.
- Provided program outreach activities including, town hall-style meetings, program flyers, paid media production, and website and social media presence.
- Performed final inspections on homes after construction to verify completion and eligibility for home occupancy.
- Validated applicant eligibility for the FEMA program to include home ownership and occupancy.
- Developed required documentation for FEMA program reimbursement and program closeout.
- Collected required Rights of Entry (ROE) forms.