FRLS Home Mobile After Disaster Brochure - April 17, 2025
Florida Rural Legal Services, Inc. (FRLS) is a non-profit law firm that provides free civil legal aid to eligible individuals, families, and vulnerable communities across 13 Florida counties, as well as to farmworkers statewide.
are the Service Areas of FRLS?
OFFICE LOCATIONS:
FORT MYERS
Our offices serve the following counties: Lee, Polk, Palm Beach, St. Lucie, Martin, Okeechobee, Indian River, Highlands, Hardee, Hendry, Charlotte, Desoto, and Glades.
Support Our Mission
We invite you to help us raise awareness about the free legal services offered by FRLS. Many individuals in our community may not be aware of the support available to them, and together, we can change that. You can help by sharing this brochure with family, friends, and members of your community, sharing our phone number and webpage, and telling anyone who needs help with a civil legal problem about our non-profit law firm.
What Happens Next?
After applying for FEMA benefits, you should receive a nine-digit registration number
Meet or designate someone to meet with FEMA inspectors
Provide photos and value of loss properties to inspectors
After inspection, a determination letter should be issued within 10 days
Read the eligibility determination carefully and seek legal advice if you are denied assistance or are not satisfied with the amount awarded
MOBILE HOMES AFTER A DISASTER
provide free legal counseling, advice, and full representation to eligible clients in disaster cases.
WHAT IS FEMA FOR?
FEMA can provide financial support for certain disaster-caused damages like:
Help to repair damages to your home or to pay for temporary housing
Help for medical, funeral, burial, and childcare costs
Help to replace some personal belongings that were damaged or destroyed by disaster
U.S. citizen or U.S. National Permanent resident/green card holder
Other qualified immigrants like a refugee or asylee
When can I Apply?
You must apply for FEMA assistance within 60 days of the Presidential Disaster declaration and approval of assistance for individuals.
How do I apply?
Online at disasterassistance.gov
By phone at 1-800-621-3362
Use FEMA's mobile app
In person at a Disaster Recovery Center (DRC) or Mobile Registration Intake Center (MRIC)
What do I need to apply?
Address of damaged home
Documents to show you owned and occupied the home at the time of the disaster.
Descriptions of damages to your home
If insured, your insurance information
Social Security Number
Contact Information
Total household income at the time of the disaster
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Q: My mobile home is damaged, am I eligible to apply for FEMA disaster relief benefits?
A: You may be eligible for FEMA disaster relief benefits if you are a mobile homeowner living in the mobile home or a renter living in the mobile home. Only one member of the household living in the mobile home should apply for FEMA disaster relief.
Q: What kind of benefits will FEMA provide mobile homeowners?
A: FEMA may provide:
Financial assistance for repairs, if repairs are possible
A cash award for “loss of housing unit” if mobile home is classified as destroyed
In extreme cases, a new mobile home for temporary living, sometimes with the possibility of purchasing the home at a reduced rate
Q: What kind of benefits will FEMA provide mobile home renters?
A: FEMA may provide:
Financial assistance to mobile home renters whose personal property was damaged by the hurricane
Assistance to cover 3 months rent for alternative housing, if eligible
Other needs such as: disaster-caused medical expenses, repair of a car damaged by the storm, disaster related moving, storage, and food expenses
RESPONSIBILITIES
If you own your home and rent the lot, you are obligated to pay lot rent in order to maintain possession of the lot. But, if your park is unlivable, you should speak to the park owner about whether they will reduce or waive rent for some period of time. If the owner agrees, make sure you confirm the agreement in writing, by email, or text
If you do not pay rent, the park owner may file an eviction for non-payment of rent. If that happens, you will be required to deposit your rent with the court. If you do not deposit your rent with the court, you will automatically lose the eviction
If you do not have money to pay the rent, you should contact your local disaster recovery center to see if you are eligible for any financial assistance.
CLEAN UP
You should review your lease, prospectus, and mobile home park rules and regulations to determine if there is a written agreement regarding clean up. If there is no written agreement, then Florida law governs, which states that the mobile home park owner is responsible for cleaning the debris areas of the mobile home park.
DESTROYED OR
PERMANENTLY CLOSED
The park owner must provide a 6-month notice to all residents prior to closing down a mobile home park. In addition, the park owner must provide written notice to all residents within 5 days of filing an application to change the park’s zoning from mobile home park to some other use. If the park owner closes the park, you may be eligible for a small amount of financial assistance from Florida’s Mobile Home Relocation Corporation.
