HR1607-119

What This Bill Does

The HEIR Act changes documentation rules for Community Development Block Grant Disaster Recovery and Mitigation assistance after presidentially declared disasters. HUD must amend part 570 regulations so when homeowners must prove property ownership, heir property owners and other owners lacking traditionally accepted ownership documents receive resources and options for proving ownership. Acceptable documentation must include a signed affidavit of ownership form and letters from local public or private schools, federal or state benefit providers, social service organizations, community assistance programs, or nonprofit organizations. The bill targets a common disaster-recovery barrier: families living on inherited or informally documented property can be shut out of rebuilding or mitigation aid because they lack a deed or standard title paperwork.

Who Benefits and How

Heir property owners benefit because HUD-funded disaster programs must accept alternative proof of ownership. Low-income homeowners benefit when affidavits and community letters can substitute for traditional title documents. Disaster recovery nonprofits benefit from clearer roles helping residents document ownership for CDBG-DR or CDBG-MIT assistance. Gulf Coast and rural communities benefit if informal property ownership no longer blocks recovery and mitigation funds.

Who Bears the Burden and How

HUD must amend CDBG-DR and CDBG-MIT regulations and develop ownership-documentation resources. State disaster recovery agencies must accept and verify alternative proof from schools, benefit providers, and nonprofits. Local administrators must guard against fraud while making ownership proof more flexible. Traditional title reviewers must adapt to affidavit and community-letter documentation in disaster programs.

Key Provisions

• Requires HUD to amend CDBG-DR and CDBG-MIT ownership documentation rules.
• Provides heir property owners and other nontraditional owners with proof options and resources.
• Authorizes signed affidavits of ownership as acceptable documentation.
• Allows letters from schools, benefit providers, social service organizations, community programs, and nonprofits.