Background on SBP:

SBP exists to shrink the time between disaster and recovery. We believe a prompt, efficient, and predictable recovery fortifies survivors against reaching their breaking point. SBP is committed to sharing resources and best practices developed over the past 16 years with other nonprofits and community-based organizations. To learn more about SBP, please visit SBPUSA.ORG.

SHARE Program Overview:

The SHARE Program, SBP’s in-house foundation, awards grants to qualifying nonprofit partners to address the unmet housing needs of under-resourced neighbors and communities. In addition to funding, the SHARE Program offers grantees technical training and consulting services on a variety of topics, including how to implement the Toyota Production System, how to develop effective and efficient processes for volunteer management, case management, construction and contractor selection, and more. Additionally, the SHARE Program awards AmeriCorps member “slots” to qualifying organizations to help build capacity, launch new programs or support existing efforts.

Grant details:

SBP is offering eligible nonprofit organizations the opportunity to apply for grant funds to support survivors impacted by a presidentially declared disaster in the last 4 years. These funds will support repairs for homeowners who reside in a FEMA Individual Assistance declared county and were impacted by the disaster event. Grantees will also assist survivors in receiving the maximum eligible awards from FEMA, the Small Business Administration, and their insurance companies. 

Grant funds may only be used to assist individuals at or below 120% of their respective Area Median Income. Please refer to the Department of Housing & Urban Development’s annual income limits for your specific county to ensure individuals meet this metric. In addition these funds can go to either of the following:

• Homes being built or repaired with the intention of selling to renters whose unit was impacted and was deemed uninhabitable. 

• Homeowners whose primary and only residence was impacted by the disaster event 

While this grant is open to all individuals who meet the above criteria, we strongly encourage groups providing repairs and homes to immigrant, migrant, and refugee individuals to apply. 

On average the award will allow for $14,000 per home, with most organizations receiving funding to complete 4 to 6 repairs. Qualifying homes include owner occupied properties, first time homes purchased after the rental unit was damaged and deemed uninhabitable. 

What types of organizations are eligible to apply: 

• 501c3 nonprofit organizations that provide home repairs or new construction services to homeowners impacted by a presidentially declared disaster in IA declared counties.

• Organizations that are committed to ensuring survivors receive all eligible award funds from FEMA, the Small Business Administration (SBA), or any insurance they carry. SBP is available to provide training and support on this requirement.

• Organizations repairing homes for the first time are welcome and encouraged to apply. 

External Award Requirements: 

If your disaster event is still within the open application FEMA IA window, we require the following, however for all others, training in regards to navigating the fema process is optional.

• Have survivors contribute any available funds from FEMA, SBA and their insurance companies towards the repairs/new construction of their homes in order to reduce the possibility of a duplication of benefits. 

• Help survivors supported by this grant access all federal aid and/or insurance proceeds available to them. This will require that all applicants either work with a DCM agency or provide internal casework to survivors. For FEMA and SBA assistance, this grant requires all applicants choose one of the following: 

• Option A: Applicant will send all eligible survivors to SBP’s Disaster Assistance Program (DAP) so that awards can be appealed. 

• Option B: Applicants will attend SBP’s DAP FEMA Appeals virtual training (if they have not already done so) and will agree to track survivors initial awards and subsequent appeal(s) awards. 

• Organizations are able to begin construction while an appeal is pending. If a survivor receives an appeal award, the survivor is required to contribute those funds to the organization to assist with the cost of repairing or rebuilding their home. Funds that had been set aside for the survivor’s project will be reassigned to another survivor’s project.

Rebuild Guidelines: 

• This grant allows for an average of $14,000 of SBP funds per home, with a maximum allowance of $20,000 per home. The expectation is that SBP grant funds will be leveraged with other funding sources.

• Costs associated with elevation certificates for homes in the floodplain are to be included in the allowance.

• All work done by contractors must comply with the state’s licensing requirements. 

• All repairs will include the resilient building modifications as appropriate and cost-effective

• All homes that receive repairs inside of the floodplain must carry flood insurance. 

• Applicants can include up to 10% towards admin/project management costs.

•  Final Report to be completed upon end of the grant cycle

What funds CAN be spent on: 

• Funds can be spent on repairs to make homes safe, sanitary, and livable for the flood-impacted homeowner or renter (should be leveraged with other funds) for the disaster-impacted homeowner.

• Grant funds can be used to purchase materials/supplies, pay reasonable labor/crew costs, and/or contractors for mold suppression, insulation, framing, drywall, flooring, repairs or replacement of doors and windows, kitchens, bathrooms, siding, and/or roofing. Additionally, funds may be used to ensure a safe means of ingress/egress to the home, i.e. stairs, railings, grab bars, porches, and ramps.

• All homes receiving funds from this grant (whether in the floodplain or not) are required to be repaired using resilient building modifications as appropriate and cost-effective. To ensure homes are built back more resiliently to mitigate against future disasters.

What funds CANNOT be spent on: 

• Homes inside the floodway, including elevation of homes in the floodway

• Funds cannot be used to purchase mobile homes, however MINOR repairs can be made if damages were minimal and unit can be made safe, sanitary and livable and is owned outright by the occupant

• Temporary housing payments or reimbursements 

• Outbuildings/any detached structures 

• Sidewalks, driveways, fences

• Lawn or landscape repairs that are not directly tied to the diverging of water away from the home. 

• Funds cannot be used on homes that are below Base Flood Elevation (BFE)

•  *Unless modifications are made to the property to elevate the home/utilities

Survivor Eligibility: 

• The minimum homeowner eligibility criteria: 

• Occupied the damaged home at the time of the disaster

• Lives in a IA declared county in the U.S.

• Does not own another home or residence. 

• Earns incomes less than 120% of Area Median Income. 

• Would put an undue financial burden on the homeowner to pay for market-rate contractors.

• Does not have flood or property insurance, has been denied a claim, or did not receive an adequate award.

• Can show proof of having received a denial or an inadequate award from FEMA and/or worked with SBP’s DAP program to appeal the award or denial to receive the maximum eligible award. 

• The minimum renter eligibility criteria: 

• Occupied a rental unit at the time of the disaster that can be proved to have sustained major damage. 

• Will be purchasing a home in an IA declared county. 

• Does not own another home or residence. 

• Earns incomes less than 120% of Area Median Income. 

• Can provide proof to be able to sustain the new home for a minimum of at least five years. 

• The homeowner intends to live in the property for a period of at least five years.

This grant is intended to support under-resourced homeowners who meet the following criteria.

Grantees must demonstrate that each client funded through this grant meets the following eligibility criteria:

• Proof of primary ownership.
• Proof home was inhabited before disaster, and damages are the result of disaster.
• Proof that clients registered and submitted an application to FEMA. For those homeowners who have not applied to FEMA, the homeowner is required to be referred to SBP's FEMA Support Team for application submission.
• Proof that the homeowner is not in a financial position to fund the necessary immediate repairs. (NGO or homeowner can self-certify this)

Note: If you are not assessing client eligibility and are receiving clients through referrals from other agencies, you must maintain documentation demonstrating the client meets the criteria above.