National Disaster Recovery Framework (pdf) - Federal Emergency ...

National Disaster Recovery Frameworkconduct of recovery efforts clearly violatescivil rights laws. Recipients of Federal funds,including local and State governments andprivate housing providers, are also prohibitedfrom implementing neutral policies andpractices that have a discriminatory impactbased on these characteristics. Finally bothFederal agencies and recipients must takereasonable steps to provide meaningful accessto limited English proficient individuals.Promising practices to avoid discriminatoryconsequences in recovery efforts include:• Conducting outreach to communityorganizations serving racially andethnically diverse populations forpurposes of advising them aboutavailable assistance, eligibility standardsfor assistance and including them indisaster preparedness, recovery andreconstruction planning.• Ensuring that the location for meetingsseeking public input is accessible toall impacted community membersand advertisement for such meetingstake into account the various ways inwhich different members access suchinformation.• Making sure that language services —including bilingual staff, interpreters andtranslated materials — are in place sothat limited English proficient personsare able to communicate their needs,apply for assistance and receive importantinformation about the process.• Taking steps to encourage all eligiblepersons in need to come forward toreceive vital disaster benefits; not allbenefits require a person to be legallypresent and some allow children ofCOMMUNITY CONSIDERATIONSundocumented parents to receive aid.Sharing information about the minimumeligibility standards for obtainingbenefits, so that eligible individuals,including eligible immigrants and/ortheir children can access aid withoutdifficulty or fear.• Not applying more stringent eligibilitycriteria for recovery aid based on race,color, national origin, language or otherprohibited bases.• Ensuring affordable rental housingin racially and ethnically diversecommunities and seeking input fromthose communities regardingrebuilding efforts.• Monitoring and addressing possiblehousing discrimination against displacedpersons seeking a place to live after adisaster. Complaint procedures should beclearly articulated and nondiscriminationpolicies should be in place.• Ensuring that temporary homes areadequate and conveniently located toessential services such as schools.• Planning for how residents may accessalternative medical facilities, particularlyvia public transportation, if local facilitiesare damaged or destroyed. Engageimpacted community members in theplanning for rebuilding these facilities.• Ensuring that recovery services areaccessible by public transportation.Plan for community access to recoveryservices in the event public transportationsystems are disrupted.• Monitoring and addressing possiblerecovery-related fraud, particularly fraudtargeted at racially and ethnically diversecommunities.Page 74