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Churches can now apply retroactively for disaster aid

January 06, 2018 02:57·
FEMA Reverses Policy Churches Now Eligible For Disaster Relief

FEMA Reverses Policy Churches Now Eligible For Disaster Relief

Similar rules are in a House measure that passed late past year and in a pending Senate bill. Lawyers for those houses of worship are waiting to make sure funding comes through, the San Antonio Express-News reported Wednesday.

U.S. Senator Roger Wicker, R-Miss., today praised the Federal Emergency Management Agency's (FEMA) decision to provide funding for the fix, reconstruction, or replacement of houses of worship through the agency's Public Assistance program, which provides grants for private nonprofit facilities in the wake of disasters.

Three small Texas churches sued FEMA Sept. 5 for access to disaster recovery funding available to other nonprofits.

However, it's a symbolically important issue to some faith groups, particularly in the last decade as religious conservatives have seen their standing challenged by growing liberal and secular forces. However, so long as all faiths are treated equally under the law, we believe it is only right that houses of worship have the same right to government assistance as for-profit, secular businesses. Christopher H. Smith (N.J.) and Peter T. King (N.Y.) and Democratic Rep. Grace Meng (N.Y.).

Jim Richards, executive director of the Southern Baptists of Texas Convention, said FEMA's policy change "is in the public interest". In 2005, FEMA paid for the rebuilding of parochial schools, religious community centers and religious hospitals and nursing homes, but not houses of worship.

The decision also should cleans things up nicely for the federal agency.

During the Katrina disaster, George W. Bush's administration changed the rules to allow certain religious institutions to receive funding.

"FEMA cannot do what it does so well without the cooperation of faith-based non-profit organizations and churches", Rev. Jamie Johnson, director of the Department of Homeland Security's Center for Faith-Based & Neighborhood Partnerships, told USA Today. President Barack Obama continued them, but Trump has not filled most of the key positions in the network, though he's not formally killed it. "A fundamental principal of religious liberty is that the government doesn't build churches, synagogues or other houses of worship", Garrett said. "Federal subsidies, including FEMA funds for recovery, come with federal demands". It includes a section about private nonprofits that can get post-disaster funds.

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"Private nonprofit houses of worship will not be singled out for disfavored treatment within the community centers subcategory of (Public Assistance) nonprofit applicants", FEMA Recovery Directorate Assistant Administrator Alex Amparo wrote in the new manual.

Catholic and Jewish leaders penned an opinion piece in USA Today in September encouraging legislation that would end discrimination against religious organizations in disaster aid.

This change is not just for damage caused in future disasters but also affects claims made by churches a year ago from Hurricanes Harvey and Irma because it can be applied retroactively to claims made "on or after August 23, 2017".

As with funding for other nonprofit organizations, FEMA assistance for churches under the Stafford Act is limited to fix or replacement costs not covered by a loan from the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA), the release stated.

Houses of worship aren't the only buildings denied FEMA funding by White House policies. The guidelines issued this week use preexisting language, which deems ineligible "facilities established or primarily used for political, athletic, recreational, vocational or academic training, conferences".

"I won't pretend the system of inclusion or exclusion has logic to it", Diament said of the Stafford Act.

"Even under these painful circumstances and motivated by compassion", the Interfaith Alliance stated in a January 3 news release, "the distribution of public funds through FEMA to any or all tax-exempt religious institutions is a mistake that trades a short-term benefit for long-term problems". "Now this gives houses of worship special treatment", she said.

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