Councilman David G. Greenfield is offering help and guidance to all homeowners, tenants and small business owners as they begin the process of recovering from the devastation that Hurricane Sandy caused throughout Brooklyn and New York City. There are a wide range of programs being offered by the city, state and federal government to help residents and businesses rebuild in the wake of this tragic storm. In response, Councilman Greenfield’s office is ready to assist constituents as they navigate the myriad of options currently available to them, and has compiled the guide below to assist in this process.
“I understand that residents who lost their home or belongings to Hurricane Sandy are facing a long and difficult path to recovery. This can be a frustrating and confusing process, so my office is ready to help constituents with any questions or problems they encounter while filing for city, state and federal aid. I urge every resident that needs help to immediately contact my office for assistance,” said Councilman Greenfield.
Residents who experienced significant damage to their home, including renters, can receive assistance of up to $31,900 through the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), including grants to complete home repairs or to replace essential household items that were destroyed. Residents must register for FEMA assistance at DisasterAssistance.gov. In addition, information on temporary, subsidized housing is available at http://asd.fema.gov/inter/
Because borrowers whose homes have been damaged by Sandy might not be able to make on-time mortgage payments, Freddie Mac is offering mortgage payment relief. Borrowers should contact the company to which they send their monthly mortgage payment or Freddie Mac at 1-800-FREDDIE to find out more about options including suspending or reducing mortgage payments for 90 days and suspending foreclosure sales and evictions for 90 days. In addition, Freddie Mac is waiving assessments of mortgage-related penalties or late fees and is not reporting missed payments or late charges caused by the disaster to the nation’s credit bureaus.
Similarly, homeowners with Fannie Mae loans whose homes were damaged by Hurricane Sandy and who are having difficulty paying their mortgage should contact their mortgage servicer to see if they qualify for a 90-day mortgage forbearance, which can be extended beyond 90 days on an as-needed basis. To find out if your loan is owned by Fannie Mae, or for more information on relief for hurricane victims, call 1-800-7FANNIE.
After applying with FEMA for assistance and receiving an identification number, city residents can then apply to the newly-created Rapid Repairs NYC program at no cost. This free program will help provide expedited repairs on routine items like electrical or plumbing work through licensed contractors that have been brought in to the city’s hardest hit areas, by calling 311 or visiting nyc.gov. Under this program, inspections and certifications from the city Department of Buildings and Department of Housing Preservation will be completed as quickly as possible with no filing fees to allow residents to return home sooner. Residents who have already received FEMA assistance but found that it didn’t fully cover repairs to their home will automatically be considered for up to $10,000 more through Governor Cuomo’s Homeownership Repair and Rebuilding Fund. There is no need to apply separately for this fund, as FEMA applications are automatically sent to the state. Call (855) 697-7263 for details.
FEMA generally waits until the insurance claim is completed before providing assistance to homeowners and renters, so a United States Small Business Administration loan can provide immediate relief while waiting for insurance settlements and FEMA funds. Despite its name, these loans are available to homeowners, who can borrow up to $200,000, and renters, who can borrow up to $40,000 through this program while waiting to receive FEMA payments. Interest rates for these loans are as low as 1.68 percent, with repayment terms of up to 30 years. Call USSBS at 1-800-877-8339 for more information.
To give homeowners some measure of relief, Governor Cuomo announced that residents will not have to pay insurance deductibles on claims related to hurricane damage. The state has instructed insurers to accept photographic and video documentation of damaged items as proof of losses, instead of waiting for the usual on-site inspection. Additionally, the state Legislature and Governor Cuomo announced last week the creation of a $100 million Hurricane Sandy relief fund. Although the fund’s distribution details are still in the early stages of development, Governor Cuomo instructed residents to call 1-800-NYS-SANDY for information.
In addition, to make sure that insurance companies comply with this mandate and with the terms of individual homeowners’ policies, or to help with FEMA applications, Brooklyn Borough President Marty Markowitz has launched a legal services center out of Brooklyn Borough Hall. Contact the center at (718) 802-3890 for assistance with insurance homeowner policy issues. Also, the New York State Department of Financial Services also offers a free 24-hour legal aid hotline for insurance-related questions or to file a complaint about your insurance company at 1-800-339-1759.
Along with housing assistance, FEMA also offers Disaster Unemployment Assistance for up to 26 weeks to storm victims who temporarily lost work and do not quality for regular unemployment, including self-employed individuals through an online application at DisasterAssistance.gov. In addition, Governor Cuomo just announced that more than $27 million in federal grants have been secured to hire workers to help with storm damage cleanup. Individuals who are unemployed as a result of the storm and unemployed New Yorkers who have exhausted all of their benefits can learn more by calling 1-888-209-8124.
The United States Small Business Administration offers businesses loans of up to $2 million to pay for physical damage and lost inventory, with a deadline of December 31st, and for economic losses, with a deadline of July 31, 2013. These loans carry interest rates of 3 percent for non-profits and 4 percent for businesses of any size, with loan repayment terms of up to 30 years. For details, visit http://disasterloan.sba.
To help businesses and non-profit organizations rebuild, the city Economic Development Corporation is offering loans of up to $25,000 at zero interest or payments for six months, followed by one percent for the remaining 24 months. The EDC is also providing tax exemptions of up to $100,000 on building materials and supplies. Contact Shin Mitsugi at [email protected] for a copy of this exemption letter. In addition, the SBS Emergency Response Unit is available to help business owners gain access to their premises, communicate with city agencies and apply for emergency assistance through federal programs and private insurers. Finally, the New York City Department of Small Business Service (SBS) is helping displaced businesses relocate to free temporary space at Brooklyn Army Terminal. Find out more about all of these various programs by calling the NYC Business Solutions center in Brooklyn at (347) 296-8021.
Individuals who receive food stamps and had food destroyed during Hurricane Sandy can request a credit to their Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits by filling out a form available at http://otda.ny.gov/
Additionally, wireless telephone, cable, internet and utility customers should contact their various providers to see if they qualify for reimbursement for periods when service was lost due to the storm. Many banking institutions have also provided Sandy relief such as waived ATM fees and extended credit lines, so contact your individual bank for more information.
“I understand that this is a very emotional and difficult process for homeowners and merchants to go through. It is up to government on all levels to reduce this burden and make it as easy as possible for New Yorkers to begin rebuilding their homes and lives. I am asking any residents who face obstacles in their recovery effort to contact me immediately for assistance,” concluded Councilman Greenfield.
Anyone who needs assistance with any issues related to Hurricane Sandy and the government programs available to storm victims should contact Councilman Greenfield’s office at (718) 853-2704.
(YWN Desk – NYC)
Join the official YWN WhatsApp status
