U.S. Department of Homeland Security
Washington, DC 20472

January 2, 2018
MEMORANDUM FOR:

Regional Administrators
Federal Coordinating Officers
Regional Recovery Division Directors

FROM:

Alex Amparo
Assistant Administrator
Recovery Directorate

SUBJECT:

Eligibility Review Process for Private Nonprofit Houses of Worship

By memorandum dated October 9, 2017, I provided clarification on the Public Assistance Program
eligibility review process. Specifically, I instructed you to place on hold the workflow process for
private nonprofit (PNP) houses of worship (HOWs) that are found ineligible for Public Assistance
because they do not operate eligible facilities.
With this memorandum I am releasing the hold because today I signed the Third Edition of the
Public Assistance Program Policy Guide (PAPPG), making PNP HOWs eligible applicants for
Public Assistance if they have: 1) damages arising from disasters declared on or after August 23,
2017 or 2) an application for assistance that was pending before FEMA as of August 23, 2017 that
FEMA has not finally resolved.
Specifically, the amendments to the PAPPG add as eligible “Activities of community centers or
houses of worship open to the general public, without regard to their secular or religious nature.”
Further, FEMA has removed from the PAPPG language stating that facilities used primarily for
religious activities are not eligible.
To be eligible, a HOW must be owned or operated by a private nonprofit organization and, as a noncritical PNP facility under the Stafford Act, it must apply to the Small Business Administration for a
loan.
The hold on pending HOW appeals is also no longer in effect. Any issues in these appeals related to
eligibility must now be considered utilizing the Third Edition of the PAPPG.
Should you have any questions on this direction, please consult with the Office of Chief Counsel at
the respective Regional Office or Joint Field Office, or Chris Logan, Director of the Public
Assistance Division.
cc:

Jeffrey Byard, Associate Administrator, Office of Response and Recovery
Adrian Sevier, Chief Counsel
Chris Logan, Director, Public Assistance Division
www.fema.gov