EXHIBIT A - MDA HRRP PROGRAM GUIDELINES V1.0.pdf

Homeowner Rehabilitation and Reconstruction Program ii | P a g e

Version Control

Version Number Date Summary of Changes Approved By

1.0 November 7, 2025 Original Chuck Bearman

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Table of Contents Version Control ............................................................................................................................................. ii

Table of Contents ........................................................................................................................................ iii

Version Policy ............................................................................................................................................. vii

Policy Change Control ................................................................................................................................ vii

1 Introduction

2 Program Overview

2.1 Purpose and Objective

2.2 National Objective

2.3 Award Caps

2.4 Outreach and Engagement Activities

3 Intake Application

3.1 Applicant Identification and Proof of Citizenship/Immigration Status

3.1.1 Applicant Designees

3.2 Required Applicant and Co-applicant Certifications

3.3 Order of Assistance (Priority)

3.3.1 Verification of Disability

3.3.2 Age-Dependent Household Members

4 Eligibility Requirements

4.1 Ownership

4.1.1 MHU Ownership

4.1.2 Stick-Built Properties Ownership

4.1.3 Trust

4.1.4 Title Clearance Activities

4.1.5 Death of an Applicant

4.2 Primary Residence

4.2.1 Documents Required

4.3 Property Must be Located in Eligible County/Zip Code

4.4 Property Has Unrepaired Storm Damage

4.5 Eligible Structure Type

4.5.1 Ineligible Structures

4.6 Property Taxes Current

4.7 Mortgage in Good Standing

4.8 Household Must be Low- to Moderate Income (LMI)

4.8.1 Income Calculation Methodology

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5 Conflict of Interest

6 Duplication of Benefits

6.1 Common Available Assistance

6.1.1 FEMA Individual Assistance (IA)

6.1.2 FEMA National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP)

6.1.3 Increased Cost of Compliance (ICC)

6.1.4 Private Insurance

6.1.5 Small Business Administration (SBA)

6.1.6 Other Sources

6.2 Assistance Not Considered Duplicative

6.2.1 Funds for a Different Purpose

6.2.2 Funds for the Same Purpose, but Different Eligible Use

6.3 Calculation of Duplication of Benefits

6.3.1 Duplication of Benefits Gap

6.4 Subrogation

7 Damage Assessment

7.1 Valuation of Needed Repairs

7.2 Valuation of Storm Damage Repaired prior to Application

7.3 Lead Based Paint Risk Assessment

8 Environmental Review

8.1 Tiered Environmental Review

9 Award

9.1 Award Caps

9.1.1 Historic Preservation

9.2 Reasonable Accommodation Requests

9.3 Rehabilitation

9.3.1 Not Suitable for Rehabilitation

9.3.2 Rehabilitation Scopes of Work

9.3.3 Reasonable Accommodations – Rehabilitation Award Type

9.4 Reconstruction

9.4.1 Size and New Unit Configuration

9.4.2 Reasonable Accommodations – Reconstruction Award Type

10 Pre-Construction

10.1 Contractor Selection and Assignment

10.2 Survey and Design

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10.3 Cost Estimate

10.4 Pre-Construction Meeting

10.5 Permitting and Code Compliance

11 Construction

11.1 Construction Standards

11.2 Elevation Standards

11.3 Eligible Construction Activities

11.3.1 Mitigation Measures

11.3.2 Reassessment of Unmet Need

11.4 Construction Progress Inspections

11.4.1 Rehabilitation Award Type Inspections

11.4.2 Reconstruction Award Type Inspections

11.5 Change Orders

11.6 Construction Warranty

11.7 Re-Inspections

12 Applicant Responsibilities

12.1 Flood Insurance

12.2 Applicant Cooperation with the Program

12.3 Applicant Responsiveness

12.4 Minimizing Displacement

12.5 Applicant Responsibilities During Construction

12.6 Recapture

13 Voluntary Withdrawal

14 Fraud, Waste and Abuse

14.1 Reporting Fraud

14.2 Effect of Fraud on Beneficiary

15 Complaints

16 Appeals

17 Exceptions to Program Policies

18 MDA-CID Administrative Policies

19 Program Income

19.1 Sources of Program Income

19.2 Use of Program Income

19.3 Tracking and Reporting

19.4 Closeout Considerations

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20 Closeout

20.1 Record Retention

Appendix A – Definitions vii | P a g e

Version Policy Version history is tracked in the Version History Table (page i), with notes regarding version changes.

Dates of each publication are also tracked in this table. Substantive changes in this document that reflect a policy change will result in the issuance of a new version of the document. For example, a substantive policy change after the issuance of Version 1.0 would result in the issuance of Version 2.0, an increase in the primary version number. Non-substantive changes such as minor wording and editing or clarification of existing policy that do not affect interpretation or applicability of the policy will be included in minor version updates denoted by a sequential number increase behind the primary version number (i.e., Version 2.1, Version 2.2, etc.).

Policy Change Control Policy clarifications, additions, or deletions may be needed during the course of the Program to more precisely define the rules by which the Program will operate. Policy decisions will be documented and will result in the revision of the Program Guidelines as needed. Unless otherwise noted, policy revisions are applied prospectively, made effective on the date of document approval

MDA HRRP Program Guidelines Version 1.0 November 7, 2025

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1 Introduction This document serves as the Program guidelines for the State of Mississippi’s disaster recovery Homeowner Rehabilitation and Reconstruction Program (HRRP or Program). These guidelines were developed to serve as a basis for the State’s housing Program and to provide guidance on Program implementation that follows HUD requirements and best practices. This document may also serve as a reference for property owners, applicants, and other interested parties who want to understand how the Program operates. Note that this Program Guidelines document is only intended to address the Homeowner Rehabilitation and Reconstruction Program. Each of the other recovery Programs outlined in the Mississippi Action Plan for Disaster Recovery (“Action Plan”) is governed by its own Program Guidelines document.

In 2025, the State of Mississippi was awarded a Community Development Block Grant – Disaster Recovery (CDBG-DR) grant through the US Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to address remaining unmet disaster recovery needs in areas impacted by 2023/2024 Disaster Events, DR-4697-MS, DR-4727-MS & DR-4790-MS, as outlined in the HUD approved action plan found at:

https://msdisasterrecovery.com/action-plans/2023-2024-disasters/. Federal Register Volume 90, No. 10, published on January 16th, 2025 (90 FR 4759), also known as the Allocation Announcement Notice (AAN) allocated a combined total of $134,953,000 in disaster recovery funds to the State of Mississippi. These funds will be administered through the Mississippi Development Authority – Community Incentives Division (MDA-CID). MDA-CID is the agency responsible and accountable to HUD for the administration of CDBG-DR funding. MDA-CID has allocated $17,322,630 in CDBG-DR funding for the Homeowner Rehabilitation and Reconstruction Program which will serve owner-occupied properties. The Program will be directly administered by the state, and currently no subrecipients are identified. In addition to the AAN, funds are subject to the requirements of the Universal Notice (Common Application, Waivers, and Alternative Requirements for Community Development Block Grant Disaster Recovery Grantees: The Universal Notice, published on January 8, 2025, at 90 FR 1754, as amended by Memorandums 2025-02 and 2025-03).

2 Program Overview The Homeowner Rehabilitation and Reconstruction Program provides housing assistance to eligible single-family homeowner applicants affected by 2023/2024 disaster events (qualifying disasters).

Date of Disaster Location of Disaster FEMA Disaster

Identifier

03/24/2023 - 03/25/2023 Monroe County (Amory 38821), Sharkey County, Humphreys County (Silver City 39166)

06/14/2023 - 06/19/2023 Jackson County (Moss Point 39563) 4727

04/08/2024 - 04/11/2024 Hinds County, Humphreys County (Belzoni 39038 and Silver City 39166), and Scott County

Table 1: Dates and Locations of Qualifying Disasters

HRRP assists property owners by providing funding for direct services to rehabilitate or reconstruct single family homes that suffered damage from the qualifying disaster.

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The Program serves low- to moderate-income (LMI) households impacted by the qualifying disaster in seven affected areas: Three counties (Sharkey, Hinds, and Scott) and four zip codes Belzoni (39038) and Silver City (ZIP code 39166) in Humphreys County, Moss Point (ZIP code 39563) in Jackson County, and Amory (ZIP Code 38821) in Monroe County.

Applicants who meet the eligibility and other Program requirements explained herein may be awarded funds to rehabilitate or reconstruct their storm-damaged property. Program funds will not be distributed directly to homeowners; instead, they will be distributed to Program-selected general contractors and used to cover the costs of construction activities. Eligible property types may include:

Stick-built homes Mobile home units (MHU) Modular homes

2.1 Purpose and Objective

This Program is designed to ensure that the housing needs of LMI households impacted by the qualifying disaster events are addressed to the greatest extent feasible. To this end, the Program will address disaster-related damages and other improvements to bring properties up to decent, safe, and sanitary conditions, if needed. While HRRP does not endeavor to replace homes in a “like-for-like” manner, it will incorporate mitigation measures to make assisted homes more resilient in the face of future disasters.

2.2 National Objective

All activities funded through HRRP will meet the HUD National Objective of providing benefit to Low-and Moderate Income (LMI) persons as defined at 24 CFR 570.483(b)(3). To ensure that the Program is in compliance with HUD's National Objective to benefit LMI persons, 100% of applicant households served by HRRP must qualify as LMI with a total household annual gross income that does not exceed 80% of Area Median Income (AMI), adjusted for family size, as published annually by HUD.

2.3 Award Caps

The maximum award granted to reconstruct or rehabilitate any one structure is $175,000. Exceptions to the award caps may be granted on a case-by-case basis in order to ensure accessibility standards are met, or for other unforeseen circumstances.

Stick-built Properties:

o Rehabilitation Award – Stick built properties qualify for a rehabilitation award if the estimated cost to rehabilitate is less than 50% of the pre-storm value of the structure, or $50,000, whichever is less.

o Reconstruction Award – Stick-built properties qualify for a reconstruction award if the estimated cost to rehabilitate is greater than or equal to 50% of the pre-storm value of the structure or $50,000, whichever is less.

Mobile Home Units (MHU) o Rehabilitation Award - MHUs qualify for rehabilitation award if the estimated cost to rehabilitate the unit is less than $15,000 and the unit is fewer than five (5) years old.

o Reconstruction Award - MHUs qualify for reconstruction award if the estimated cost to rehabilitate the unit is greater than or equal to $15,000 or the unit is greater than or

3 | P a g e equal to five (5) years old. MHUs will not qualify for MHU replacement; instead, a stick-built reconstruction will be available.

2.4 Outreach and Engagement Activities

MDA-CID is committed to ensuring that HRRP is implemented in a transparent, efficient, and consistent manner, and that all potentially eligible households are aware of and understand the opportunity to participate in the Program. The Program’s marketing and outreach strategy is designed to reach households in the MID area from the onset of the Program throughout the application period and Program lifecycle.

MDA-CID will implement outreach and engagement activities to promote awareness of CDBG-DR Programs and to ensure that all eligible residents, including those in hard-to-reach communities, are informed of Program opportunities and how to access assistance. MDA-CID will use official communication channels including printed materials, electronic mail, Program website updates, community meetings, press releases, and social media channels to provide timely, accessible updates regarding key Program milestones, including the opening of the HRRP Program applications and the scheduling of public hearings related to the Program.

Social media will serve as a real-time communication tool to:

• Notify residents when applications for the Program are open.

• Announce dates, times, and locations (physical or virtual) of public hearings on proposed plans, amendments, or CDBG-DR-funded projects.

• Share links to online applications, Action Plan documents, comment forms, and other Program information.

• Remind residents of upcoming deadlines for application submission or public comment periods.

• Primary platforms to be used may include:

o Facebook: Public announcements, event invitations, and shareable graphics o Instagram: Visual promotion of Program milestones, community engagement events, and success stories o YouTube or Vimeo (if applicable): Hosting recordings of public hearings and outreach videos o X: Public announcements, event invitations, shareable graphics, community engagement events, Promotion of program deadlines

3 Intake Application Applications will be accepted by HRRP at the designated service centers in each of the six (6) counties.

Due to funding limitations and other factors, HRRP cannot guarantee assistance to all interested

4 | P a g e property owners1. MDA-CID may adjust the intake period at its discretion to accommodate Program needs. Applicants may only submit an application for their primary residence.

Single-family homeowners who are interested in assistance may apply for the Program at the below service centers or online at www.mshousingrecovery.com. Below are the locations of the intake centers and the office hours.2 Any updates to the hours of operations and/or intake will be published on www.mshousingrecovery.com.

County Intake Center Location Office Hours

Hinds Edwards Community Center 108 Mt. Moriah Rd.

Edwards, MS 39066

Monday-Wednesday 10am- 7pm; 1st Saturday of the Month 1-4PM.

Scott EMA Building 210 East 2nd Street Forest, MS 39074

Thursday-Friday 10am-7pm;

3rd Saturday of the Month 1-

4PM

Sharkey Rolling Fork Intake Center 412 S 3rd Street Rolling Fork, MS 39159

Monday-Tuesday 10am-7pm;

1st Saturday of the Month 1-

4PM.

Belzoni (39038) Humphreys County

Rylice Radio Station 121 E Jackson Street Belzoni, MS 39038

Wednesday-Thursday 10am- 7pm; 3rd Saturday of the Month 1-4PM

Silver City (39166) Humphreys County

Volunteer Fire Department 119 Plum Street Silver City, MS 39166

Friday 10am-7pm

Moss Point (39563) Jackson County

Moss Point City Hall 4320 McInnis Avenue Moss Point, MS 39563

Monday-Friday 10am-7pm; 1st & 3rd Saturday of the Month 1-

4PM.

Amory (38821) Monroe County Youth Court Building 1619 Highland Drive Amory, MS 38821

Monday-Friday 10am-7pm; 1st & 3rd Saturday of the Month 1-

4PM

Table 2: Location and Office Hours of Program Intake Centers

Applicants will be required to complete an intake application and provide supporting documents required for eligibility review, income verification, and duplication of benefits review. All documentation

1 HRRP will serve as many applicants as possible with the allotted budget.

2 These hours are only applicable during intake period. Please see website for updates. Please note that State-recognized holidays may impact these hours.

5 | P a g e submitted by the applicant must be valid at the time of submission. The application process will require each applicant to authorize the Program to obtain third-party data by signing a consent/release form.

Case Managers will be available at the intake center, by phone, and via email to assist the applicant through the intake process and to answer questions as needed. Each applicant will be assigned a dedicated Case Manager. Each Case Manager has a direct email and phone line at which he/she can be reached. Applicants are provided with direct contact information for the Case Manager assigned to the application. Alternatively, the applicant may contact a Program representative by using the general contact information outlined below.

Multiple standard methods of communication will be provided to ensure applicants receive timely, accurate information regarding their application status and the Program. Applicants may check the status of their application via the Program website at www.mshousingrecovery.com, or by using one of the below methods of communication. Methods of communication with the Program include, but are not limited to:

Mississippi Housing Recovery website: www.mshousingrecovery.com Email: info@mshousingrecovery.com Telephone: 866-981-7727

Mail correspondence:

Mississippi Development Authority ATTN: Community Incentives Division – Disaster Recovery Post Office Box 849 Jackson, Mississippi 39205

MDA-CID will ensure that all applicants have meaningful access to the intake and application process consistent with Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. Applicants who require assistance due to language, disability, or other access barriers may request reasonable accommodations and the Program will work with them to ensure their ability to participate fully in the application process.

3.1 Applicant Identification and Proof of Citizenship/Immigration Status All applicants and household members of applicants aged 18 or older will be required to submit a valid, unexpired photo identification. Forms of identification accepted by HRRP include:

Government Issued Photo Identification (Federal or State issued) Driver's License Passport Military ID Card Certificate of Naturalization or Permanent Resident Card

Household members under the age of eighteen (18) must also submit proof of age and identity. Birth certificates must be submitted for all household members seventeen (17) and younger. If an applicant is unable to produce a birth certificate for a minor child, other documents may be considered on a case-by-case basis.

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All adult household members (18+) must meet the eligibility and verification requirements under Title IV of the Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act of 1996 (PRWORA), as amended (8 U.S.C. §§ 1601–1646), and as required by the Universal Notice. Assistance is limited to U.S. citizens and qualified aliens as defined in 8 U.S.C. § 1641.

A U.S. Passport, Certificate of Naturalization, Certificate of Citizenship, or U.S. Birth Certificate is sufficient proof of citizenship and does not require SAVE verification.

Immigration documents, such as a Permanent Resident Card, must be verified through the Systematic Alien Verification for Entitlements (SAVE) system or another DHS-approved verification method.

3.1.1 Applicant Designees

Applicants may choose to designate other individuals to act on their behalf or to receive information about the application from HRRP. Applicants may designate a Power of Attorney, Co-Applicant, or Designated Representative, or any combination thereof, at the sole discretion of the applicant. The requirements for and powers of each designated representative type vary and are outlined below.

Power of Attorney: A Power of Attorney is someone who is legally authorized to act on behalf of the applicant. The powers afforded to a legally authorized Power of Attorney vary, based on the duly executed Power of Attorney document. HRRP will not provide assistance to the applicants in creating a Power of Attorney but will recognize the powers of a legal Power of Attorney as outlined in a Power of Attorney document submitted by the applicant.

Co-Applicant: A Co-Applicant must be an adult, and co-owner of the damaged property. A Co- Applicant must also be a household member at the damaged property. Co-Applicants will have the same authority over the application as the Applicant. If a Co-Applicant is designated by the Applicant, Co-Applicants must sign all Program documents with the Applicant. Applicants with joint ownership of a property must submit a Co-Owner Consent form, signed by all co-owners, which gives each co-owner’s consent for HRRP activities affecting the damaged property up to demolishing and reconstructing the property, if the applicant qualifies to receive assistance.

However, Applicants are not required to designate a Co-Applicant, regardless of whether or not the damaged property is owned jointly.

Designated Representative: A designated representative may be any adult person the applicant wishes to designate as an authorized person to receive information about the Applicant’s application. HRRP shall be authorized to share information with the designated representative, but the designated representative is not authorized to make any decisions regarding the application or affect the application on the applicant’s behalf.

Any of the aforementioned persons, if duly appointed by the applicant, may serve as the applicant’s representative in attendance of Program inspections, should the applicant be unable or unwilling to attend. However, only a Power of Attorney duly authorized to do so may sign documents, make agreements or decisions, or otherwise act unilaterally on behalf of an applicant.

3.2 Required Applicant and Co-applicant Certifications

As part of the application process, each applicant must sign an Acknowledgements and Consent statement. The Acknowledgements and Consent statement includes the following acknowledgements

7 | P a g e and authorizations. The table below outlines the required certifications and a description of the content of the certification.

Certification General Description

Release of Information Authorization from the applicant to share and receive personal information from third parties in connection with HRRP and for purposes of progressing his/her case through

Right of Entry Authorization from the applicant for the Program to access the damaged property throughout the life of the application

Certification of Truthfulness

Applicant affirmation that all information provided in the application is accurate

Subrogation Agreement

Applicant affirmation that any funds received for the same purpose as funds provided under provision of assistance through must be returned to

MDA-CID

Construction Stop Work

Applicant agreement to stop all construction work at the damaged property and take no choice limiting actions after date of Program application.

Conflict of Interest Disclosure

Applicant’s report of relationship with any public servant, employee, agent, consultant, officer, or elected official or appointed official of MDA-CID, or of any designated public agencies, or of subrecipients that are receiving funds under the CDBG-DR Program (collectively, “Public Servant”) and the nature of said relationship. Applicants who do not have a relationship with Public Servants must report that no such relationship exists.

No Income Certification (as applicable)

Self-certification confirming that the applicant, co-applicant, or adult household member who claimed zero income attests that he/she does not receive income from any source (i.e. Social Security, retirement, disability, alimony, etc.).

No Insurance Certification (as applicable)

Attestation that the storm-impacted property was not insured at the time of the disaster.

Media Release Applicant’s consent to allow or decline the use of photos, video, testimonials, or other media content related to the reconstruction of their home for Program marketing purposes.

Designated Representative

Authorization from the applicant for an alternate contact to receive information from the Program team regarding the application.

Table 3: Applicant Certifications Collected at Intake

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3.3 Order of Assistance (Priority)

In order to assist the most vulnerable households in Mississippi, HRRP will process applications based on two tiers of priorities as follows:

1. Tier 1:

Applications located within or immediately adjacent to the verified National Weather Service (NWS) storm track corridors of the March 2023, June 2023, and April 2024 disaster events, shall receive highest priority consideration. These areas represent the most severe impact zones with confirmed major or total housing loss.

2. Tier 2:

Applications from census tracts or communities identified by HUD as Most Impacted and Distressed (MID), but located outside of the direct NWS storm path, shall receive secondary priority. These areas experienced significant indirect damage or community disruption as a result of the disaster event.

HRRP will use NWS storm track data, paired with FEMA Individual Assistance to confirm the applicant’s residence within an eligible impact zone. The Program shall maintain official GIS overlays of NWS storm paths and integrate them into the Program’s prioritization system.

Within each tier, HRRP will prioritize review of applications based on the following factors:

Priority 1: Low-to-Moderate-Income Applications with both:

a. Age-dependent household member(s)3 AND

b. Household member(s) with a documented disability

Priority 2: Low-to-Moderate-Income Applications with either:

a. Age-dependent household member(s) OR

Priority 3: Low-to-Moderate-Income Applications with neither:

a. Age-dependent household member(s) OR

3.3.1 Verification of Disability

To be considered as a household with disabled household member(s), a Verification of Disability Form must be completed by the applicant. Although not required to be eligible, applicants will be required to submit verification of disability documentation as part of the intake process for the purpose of prioritization. The Verification of Disability form requires that the applicant document the disability via one of the following acceptable methods:

3 For the purposes of program priorities, age-dependent households are defined as households including members greater than or equal to 62 years old and/or less than or equal to 17 years old.

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1. Visible disability such as a wheelchair bound applicant or an applicant utilizing the assistance of a walker can be verified by a representative;

2. Receipt of Federal Disability Benefits as documented by applicant provided Social Security Disability Benefits letter/documentation or documented by the Veteran’s Administration (VA);

3. Certification from medical professional;

4. Presentation of a valid verifiable government issued disability placard; or

5. Mississippi Homestead Exemption which shows the applicant is disabled.

3.3.2 Age-Dependent Household Members

For purposes of assigning priority for age-dependent household member(s), age will be determined at the point when an application is submitted. Applicants and their households cannot “age into” or “age out of” priority. For example, if a household qualifies for priority status because a household member is age seventeen (17) at the time the application is submitted, the priority designation will be honored throughout the life of the Program. Priority does not expire when the household member turns eighteen (18). Similarly, if a household member was under sixty-five (62) years old at the time of application but turns sixty-two (62) prior to the close of the application, priority will not be assigned at the time of the household member’s sixty-second (62nd) birthday.

4 Eligibility Requirements Each applicant will be screened for eligibility to ensure compliance with HRRP requirements.

Applicants will be required to provide complete and accurate information regarding their household composition, household income, and other eligibility criteria. Failure to disclose accurate and complete information (including failure to provide necessary documentation) may result in the applicant being deemed ineligible for assistance.

If an Applicant is found to have submitted inaccurate, incomplete and/or fraudulent information in order to appear eligible for HRRP, then they may be required to make full restitution to the State of Mississippi, including administrative fees, construction costs, and other costs. This includes but is not limited to omission of marital status, household income, acceptance of benefits, property ownership, primary residence, bankruptcy filings, and foreclosure status. 4

Below are the threshold requirements to be eligible for assistance. Threshold requirements are those that will either allow an applicant to continue to move forward in the Program or result in disqualification. Please note that being deemed eligible does not guarantee that assistance will be provided, as HRRP is subject to limited funding.

All applicants must demonstrate compliance with all eligibility criteria.

Applicants applying for assistance must meet all of the following criteria:

4 Please see 12.6 Recapture for further explanation of potential financial consequences.

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Applicant must have owned the damaged property at the time of the applicable disaster event and must still own the property;

The applicant must have occupied the home as a primary residence at the time of the qualifying disaster;

The storm-damaged property must be located within one of the HUD-MID areas;

The storm-damaged property must have unrepaired damage as a result of the applicable disaster event as verified through inspection reports, FEMA data, or other acceptable damage assessment documentation;

The storm-damaged property must be an eligible structure type as defined in section 4.5 below;

The applicant must be current on their property taxes or on a payment plan in good standing;

If there is a mortgage on the property, the mortgage must be in good standing;

The Applicant’s household must qualify as low- to moderate-income, with a combined annual household income equal to or less than 80% of the Area Median Income, adjusted for family size;

Property must be in good standing with federal flood insurance requirements, if applicable;

and

If the applicant qualifies for a relocation award, they must agree to the demolition of their storm-damaged property.

Eligibility Criterion Document(s) Required

Must have owned the damaged property at the time of the Qualifying Disaster.

Applicants must still own the property to receive assistance.

One (1) of the following:

Deed (Warranty or quitclaim) Mortgage statement Probated will Court order or judgement granting ownership of the property Other documents may be considered on a case-by-case basis Mobile/Manufactured Homes Only:

o Title o Bill of Sale showing applicant’s name as owner and purchase date prior to the Qualifying Disaster o MHU Registration with purchase date prior to the Qualifying Disaster o Warranty Deed identifying the MHU

Must have occupied the home as a primary residence at the time of the Qualifying Disaster.

One (1) of the following:

Homestead exemption at the storm-damaged property address in the year of the Qualifying Disaster;

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FEMA IA award letter for damaged property address for damages caused by Qualifying Disaster;

SBA Disaster Home Loan award letter for damaged property address for damages caused by Qualifying Disaster

OR two (2) of the following:

Driver’s license or state-issued ID card showing the damaged property address; issued prior to the date of the Qualifying Disaster and expiring after;

Utility bills addressed to applicant at damaged property address showing that services were provided in the month preceding or month of the Qualifying Disaster (must indicate household utility usage during pre-disaster time period);

Credit card bill or bank statement sent to the applicant at the damaged property address in the month preceding or the month of the Qualifying Disaster;

Insurance documentation indicating primary residence in the year of the Qualifying Disaster, such as a homeowner’s insurance policy declaration page;

Employer’s statements, including pay stubs and similar employment documents (must be dated in the month preceding or month of the Qualifying Disaster)

Other documents may be considered on a case-by-case basis

Property is located in a HUD-MID Area Verified by the Program using storm-damaged property address and GIS mapping if needed

Property has unrepaired damage from the Qualifying Disaster.

Verified by the Program via a Damage Assessment;

OR

If it is impossible to verify storm damage via a Program damage assessment, such as in cases where the storm damaged property has been demolished, the applicant may be required to provide proof of storm damage, which may include:

FEMA IA award letter for damaged property address for damages caused by Qualifying Disaster;

SBA Disaster Home Loan award letter for damaged property address for damages caused by Qualifying Disaster

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Insurance claim noting damages at the damaged property address caused by Qualifying Disaster

Date-stamped, color photos of storm damage at the damaged property address; or

Other documents may be considered on a case-by-case basis

The storm-damaged property must be an eligible structure type (Stick Built Home Structure, Mobile Home Unit, Modular Home)

Verified by the Program via a Damage Assessment;

OR

If it is impossible to verify structure type via a Program damage assessment, such as in cases where the storm damaged property has been demolished, the applicant may be required to provide proof of storm damage, which may include:

Pre-storm information on structure type from the property appraiser’s office;

Date-stamped, color photos of the damaged property address; or

Other document considered on a case-by-case basis

Property Taxes Current Proof from the tax assessor of property taxes paid in full at the time of application; or

Proof of a payment plan in good standing at the time of application

If there is a mortgage on the property, the mortgage is in good standing

Most recent mortgage statement, at time of application, showing no arrearages

Household is low- to moderate-income5 Proof of income is required for the applicant and all household members aged 18 or older. Proof of income required varies by the type of income and individual earnings. Required documents to demonstrate income for the most common sources of income are as follows:

Most recent year tax return

OR, if tax return is not available:

5 For further information on how household income is calculated, please see Household Income Verification Section of this document.

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Wages: Three (3) most recent paystubs Retirement/Social Security:

o Current Social Security Benefits letter (including benefits paid to minors), o Current Pension/Retirement Benefit letter (if applicable), or prior year 1099 form, or o Current Annuity Payment letter (if applicable), or prior year 1099 form;

Self‐Employment Income: Most recent tax return (1040 or 1040A), W‐2 Forms; and/or Current year profit and loss statement;

Unemployment Benefits: Current benefit letter with gross benefit amount;

Court Ordered Alimony/Spousal Maintenance: Copy of court order documentation;

Taxable Interest and Dividends (including amounts received by, or on behalf of minors);

No Income: Adult household members who have not earned an income in the last year will be required to submit a Certification of No Income.

If applicable, applicant must provide proof of federal flood insurance coverage

Federal Flood insurance policy

Table 4: Accepted method(s) of verification of eligibility criteria for Applicants

4.1 Ownership

Applicants must have owned the damaged property at the time of the Qualifying Disaster and must currently own the damaged property in order to be eligible for the Program.

4.1.1 MHU Ownership

Applicants applying for assistance for a mobile home unit (MHU) must establish ownership of the MHU at the time of the Qualifying Disaster. While MHU owners do not need to demonstrate proof of land ownership to be eligible, MHU owners must demonstrate that they have legal right to occupy the land.

Note that if the applicant does not own the land and it is later determined that the cost to repair the MHU exceeds the allowed threshold for rehabilitation, the applicant must be able to provide an alternate site or obtain ownership of the land on which the MHU currently sits for stick-built construction.

4.1.1.1 Documents Required

Proof of MHU ownership can be established with the following documents:

Property Title;

Bill of Sale showing applicant name as owner and date of sale;

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Title from the county land records showing manufactured home ownership; or State issued certificate showing the name of the applicant as owner.

If the applicant was under a Lease Purchase Agreement for the property and/or MHU, the contract must be satisfied and a warranty deed granting the property to the applicant must be recorded in the property records. The original contract and subsequent Warranty Deed are required. HRRP may consider other forms of MHU ownership on a case-by-case basis.

4.1.2 Stick-Built Properties Ownership

Applicants applying for assistance for a stick-built home must establish ownership of the property as of the date of the applicable disaster event.

4.1.2.1 Documents Required

Proof of ownership can be established with the following documents:

Deed (Warranty or Quitclaim);

Mortgage statement;

Probated will;

Court order or judgment granting ownership of the property; or Other documents may be considered on a case-by-case basis

4.1.3 Trust

Property held in trust for the benefit of natural persons can be eligible for HRRP assistance as long as at least one of the occupants at the time of the Qualifying Disaster was a current beneficiary of the trust.

The trustee’s powers must include the ability to affect the damaged property. If the trustee’s powers do not include the ability to affect the damaged property, the beneficiaries with an interest in the damaged property must sign the closing documents along with the Trustee.

The following is required to confirm eligibility:

The applicant(s) must provide a copy of the trust document; and.

The trust document or an abstract or extract of the trust must be recorded in the conveyance records of the county in which the damaged property is located. This recordation in the conveyance records of the county in which the damaged property is located may be recorded post-storm(s) if necessary.

The applicable agreements must be executed by trustee(s) unless the trust distributes the property to a beneficiary, in which event the beneficiary receiving the property must execute the applicable agreement and occupy the residence after assistance. If the property was not serving as the primary residence for the current beneficiaries or trustee, the applicant(s) is not eligible for assistance.

4.1.4 Title Clearance Activities

Applicants with ownership interest in a property who cannot supply the acceptable ownership documents as outlined in this guideline due to heirship or probate issues may be afforded up to six (6) months from the date of application to clear title defects related to probate and/or heirship and provide the Program with an acceptable document to demonstrate ownership. If an applicant cannot sufficiently resolve ownership issues within six (6) months of application submission, the case will be deemed ineligible for failure to sufficiently prove ownership of the storm-damaged property.

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4.1.5 Death of an Applicant

If an applicant passes away after an HRRP application is submitted, but before construction begins, the applicant’s heir may be deemed eligible to receive assistance through HRRP if:

The heir is a household member listed on the application; and The heir can demonstrate current ownership of the storm damaged property via one of the accepted methods outlined in this section; and The heir meets all other eligibility requirements.

If no eligible household member-heir is identified, the application will be closed. If an applicant passes away after Program construction has begun, the Program will complete construction of the property.

4.2 Primary Residence

Applicants must provide documentation that establishes that they occupied the damaged property as their primary residence as of the date of the Qualifying Disaster.

4.2.1 Documents Required

Documents provided to demonstrate primary residence should include the applicant or co-applicant’s name, the appropriate date demonstrating residence at the time of the Qualifying Disaster, and the damaged property address. Acceptable documents include:

Homestead exemption at the storm-damaged property address in the year of the Qualifying Disaster;

FEMA IA award letter for the damaged property address for damages caused by the Qualifying Disaster; or

SBA Disaster Home Loan award letter for damaged property address for damages caused by the Qualifying Disaster

OR two (2) of the following:

Current driver’s license or state-issued ID card showing the damaged property address; issued prior to the date of the Qualifying Disaster and expiring after;

Utility bills addressed to the applicant at the damaged property address showing that services were provided in the month preceding or the month of the Qualifying Disaster (must indicate household utility usage during the pre-disaster time period);

Credit card bill or bank statement sent to the applicant at the damaged property address in the month preceding or the month of the Qualifying Disaster;

Insurance documentation indicating primary residence in the year of the Qualifying Disaster, such as a homeowner’s endorsement;

Employer’s statements, including paystubs and similar employment documents dated in the month preceding or month of the Qualifying Disaster;

Other documents may be considered on a case-by-case basis

The Program will review and assess all available documentation together and determine primary residence based on the applicant’s demonstration of consistency across the variety of documentation provided. In the event that inconsistencies in documentation are found, the application may not move forward in the eligibility process until the inconsistencies are resolved by the applicant. All applicants

16 | P a g e to the Program bear the burden of proof for providing consistent evidence to prove primary residency at the time of the disaster. In the event of overcrowding, case management may request primary residency documents from the additional household member(s). Specific circumstances will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis.

4.3 Property Must be Located in Eligible County/Zip Code

To be eligible, a property must be located in a HUD-MID county/zip code. Currently, there are no State-identified MID areas. The Program will verify the property location using the property address and GIS coordinates/mapping if needed.

Eligible counties/zip codes are shown in the table below.

County HUD or State MID

Hinds HUD MID

Scott HUD MID

Sharkey HUD MID

Humphryes County (Zip Code 39038) HUD MID

Humphreys County (Zip Code 39166) HUD MID

Jackson County (Zip Code 39563) HUD MID

Monroe County (Zip Code 38821) HUD MID

Table 5: HUD and State Designated Most Impacted and Distressed (MID) Counties

4.4 Property Has Unrepaired Storm Damage

To be eligible for assistance, the subject property must have unrepaired damage resulting from a Qualifying Disaster. The Program will attempt to verify storm damage via a property damage assessment. In the event a damage assessment cannot demonstrate storm damage, such as in cases where the damaged structure is demolished at the time of inspection, the applicant is required to submit documentation to demonstrate the property sustained damage as a result of the Qualifying Disaster.

4.5 Eligible Structure Type

To be eligible for assistance, the property must be an eligible structure type. Eligible structure types include:

Single-family stick-built/traditional homes Mobile Home Units (MHU) Modular Homes

4.5.1 Ineligible Structures

The following structure types are ineligible for assistance:

Multi-unit structures, townhomes and condominiums

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Unless they are required by community covenants, garages, sheds, and outbuildings not attached to the main dwelling unit are not eligible for rehabilitation but may be eligible for demolition only, as part of an eligible project, if deemed a safety hazard or in the path of the proposed construction activities. Garages, sheds, and outbuildings will not be addressed as stand-alone activities;

Recreational Vehicles and camper trailers used as a residence are not eligible for the Program;

Houseboats used as a residence are not eligible for the Program;

Second homes;

Housing units located where federal assistance is not permitted by federal regulation, including floodways, or within a Coastal Barrier Resources System unit;

Properties with delinquent mortgages, delinquent real property taxes, or properties that are subject to bankruptcy proceedings or in foreclosure;

Properties located on sites with extraordinary site conditions that are determined to be not feasible for demolition and reconstruction. Extraordinary site conditions may include but are not limited to properties with environmental concerns, properties where local building codes prohibit Program scopes of work, or properties located in a floodway.

4.6 Property Taxes Current

All applicant(s) must be current on their property taxes, or current on a locally approved payment plan through the local taxing authority, except for MHUs located on non-owned land (leased lots). HRRP will have the applicant provide documentation from the local Property Appraiser’s Office or may obtain such information electronically from a local tax collector’s office.

Properties with delinquent real property taxes are ineligible.

4.7 Mortgage in Good Standing

If the subject property has a mortgage, the mortgage must be in good standing, with no arrearages.

Applicants who have a mortgage on the subject property must submit proof of a mortgage in good standing at the time of application. Applicants who have previously fallen into arrears on a mortgage may be eligible, if the applicant can demonstrate the mortgage is currently in good standing or that a payment plan has been agreed to by the lender and the payment plan is in good standing.

Properties with delinquent mortgages, or properties that are subject to bankruptcy proceedings or in foreclosure are ineligible.

4.8 Household Must be Low- to Moderate Income (LMI)

In order to meet the income eligibility requirement, applicants must be LMI with a total household annual gross income that does not exceed 80% AMI, adjusted for family size, as published annually by HUD. The Program will use the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) Form 1040 definition of income, for the purpose of determining applicants’ eligibility for the HRRP. The IRS Form 1040 method of calculating income is often referred to as the Adjusted Gross Income or AGI method.

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4.8.1 Income Calculation Methodology

All household members included in the AGI calculation, if required to file, must provide a copy of their previous year's filed tax return or tax return transcript, if available, for the AGI of the household to be calculated. The Program will allow the use of the previous tax year’s tax return in determining annual income for each adult household member, and no other documentation will be required. However, the applicant will certify there has not been any substantial changes in income since the previous year’s tax return. If there have been significant changes to household income, the Program may require additional income documentation to calculate income.

Situations may occur where a household member may have had no obligation to file a return, has not yet filed it, or filed an extension. If any household member did not file a prior year income tax return, the household member is required to submit current documentation that reflects their current income.

The following income documentation will be required for each household member only if the type of income is applicable and if a prior year income tax return is not available:

Wages: Three (3) recent paystubs within the past three (3) months, W-2 Forms;

Retirement or Social Security:

o Past three (3) Monthly Bank Statements (Social Security Benefits & Pension only), Bank statements acceptable only if they clearly show gross recurring deposits;

if net, require cross-verification with award letter or SSA-1099 to add back deductions.

o Current Social Security Benefits letter (including benefits paid to minors), o Current Pension/Retirement Benefit letter (if applicable), or prior year 1099 form, and/or o Current Annuity Payment letter (if applicable), or prior year 1099 form;

Self‐Employment Income: Most recent tax return (1040 or 1040A), W‐2 Forms; and/or Current year profit and loss statement;

Rental Income: Current lease agreements

Unemployment Benefits: Current benefit letter with gross benefit amount;

Court Ordered Alimony/Spousal Maintenance: Copy of court order documentation;

Taxable Interest and Dividends (including amounts received by, or on behalf of minors);

No Income: Adult household members who do not earn an income will be required to submit a Certification of No Income.

4.8.1.1 Household Composition Determination

A household is defined as all persons occupying the same housing unit, regardless of their relationship to each other. The occupants could consist of a single family, two or more families living together, or any other group of related or unrelated persons who share living arrangements. Household members are all persons (minors and adults) who are living in the damaged home. The test of meeting the low-

19 | P a g e to-moderate income objective is based on the total combined adjusted gross income of all the household members.

Household income shall be calculated based on the adjusted gross income as defined for purposes of reporting under Internal Revenue Service (IRS) Form 1040 series for individual Federal annual income tax purposes. HRRP will consider income of all household members, not just the applicant, to make a determination of annual household income.

HRRP will use the following rules to determine the income of household members to be included in the household income calculation:

Minors -…