U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Secretary Scott Turner announced the availability of federal disaster assistance to the Commonwealth of Kentucky to supplement recovery efforts in the areas affected by severe storms, straight-line winds and tornadoes from May 16-17, 2025.
“HUD serves every American and works alongside communities to help rebuild homes, neighborhoods, and businesses after severe storms,” said Secretary Turner. “To support Kentuckians during this time of need, HUD is providing financial flexibility and disaster recovery resources to affected communities.”
“After each disaster Kentucky has faced, we have made a promise to rebuild every structure, home and life that was affected,” said Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear. “HUD’s support will help us keep that promise by giving our families and community programs more opportunities when it comes to financing homes damaged or lost in the May tornados.”
President Trump issued a major disaster declaration for the State of Kentucky.
Effectively immediately, HUD is:
- Providing financial flexibility – A 90-day moratorium is issued on foreclosures of mortgages insured by the Federal Housing Administration (FHA) as well as foreclosures of mortgages to Native American borrowers guaranteed under the Section 184 Indian Home Loan Guarantee program. HUD’s Section 184 Program imposes on servicers a 90-day foreclosure moratorium for any impacted borrowers in an area designated by a Presidential Major Disaster Declaration (MDD). HUD’s Office of Native American Programs will send out a mass communication to Section 184 lenders and servicers reminding them of the MDD policy. There is also a 90-day extension granted automatically for Home Equity Conversion Mortgages. The moratorium and extension are effective as of the President’s disaster declaration date. Call the FHA Resource Center at 1-800-304-9320 for additional information. To learn more about disaster relief options for FHA homeowners, visit the FHA Disaster Relief site.
- Making mortgage insurance available – When homes are destroyed or damaged to an extent that they require reconstruction or complete replacement, HUD’s Section 203(h) program provides FHA insurance to disaster victims. Borrowers from participating FHA- approved lenders are eligible for 100 percent financing, including closing costs.
- Making financing available for both mortgage and home rehabilitation – HUD’s Section 203(k) loan program enables individuals to finance the purchase or refinance of a house, along with its repair, through a single mortgage. Homeowners can also finance the rehabilitation of their existing home if damaged.
- Sharing information on housing providers and HUD programs – Information will be shared with FEMA and the state on housing providers that may have available units in the impacted counties, including Public Housing Agencies and multi-family owners. The Department will also connect FEMA and the state with subject matter experts to provide information on HUD programs and providers.
- Providing flexibility to Community Planning and Development grantees – Recipients of Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) program, Housing Opportunities for Persons With AIDS (HOPWA) program, Continuum of Care (CoC) program, Emergency Solutions Grants (ESG) program, HOME Investment Partnerships program, and Housing Trust Fund (HTF) program funds can apply for administrative flexibility in response to a Major Disaster Declaration (MDD) for Kentucky (DR 4875-KY). For more information on applying for a waiver or suspension of program requirements, contact your local Community Planning and Development (CPD) Field Office here.
- Providing flexibility to Public Housing Agencies – Public Housing Agencies can apply for necessary waivers and flexibilities for disaster relief and recovery. For detailed information on waiver applications, click here to see the latest Federal Register Disaster Relief Notice guidance. As a reminder, to be eligible to receive a disaster waiver, the PHA must be located in an active presidentially declared Major Disaster Declaration (MDD) area and submitted within four months of an MDD.
- Ensuring HUD-approved housing counseling agencies are ready to assist – HUD-approved housing counseling agencies have counselors available to assist those impacted by natural disasters and determine assistance needs and available resources. Find a HUD-approved housing counseling agency online, or use our telephone look-up tool by calling 1-800-569-4287. The telephone look-up tool includes access to information in more than 200 different languages. You do not need to have an FHA-insured mortgage to meet with a HUD-approved housing counseling agency. There is never a fee for foreclosure prevention counseling.
- Assisting with housing discrimination – Housing discrimination can occur when people attempt to find and access housing following a disaster. HUD’s Office of Fair Housing and Equal Opportunity is available to assist people who believe they have experienced housing discrimination. If you think your rights have been violated, you should file a fair housing complaint with HUD. You can file a complaint by calling HUD at 1-800-669-9777 or visiting the portal to file a complaint on HUD’s website. Individuals who are deaf or hard of hearing may contact HUD using the Federal Relay Service at 1-800-877-8339. HUD may not help you if your complaint is filed more than one year after the last discriminatory act. You may also be able to file a complaint with a state or local fair housing agency. A list of the state and local fair housing agencies funded by HUD is available on HUD’s website here.