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Fair City launches new program to help Sandy victims
Teams with FEGS to provide additional assistance to residents
As the April 11 deadline to apply for the NY Rising Housing Recovery Program quickly approaches, the city has launched a new program to help residents who are “still struggling to navigate through the bureaucracy” of post-Hurricane Sandy funding and rebuilding programs, City Manager Jack Schnirman said.
The city has teamed up with FEGS Health & Human Services — a not‐for‐profit organization that helps individuals achieve greater personal and economic independence — to establish a Residential Rebuilding Assistance Program in Long Beach, described as the first of its kind in the region. The program, officials said, will be offering residents additional comprehensive residential rebuilding services, with the ultimate goal of “helping Long Beach residents receive the funding and resources they need and deserve.”
“This innovative, first of its kind partnership will enable us to assist residents who are still struggling to navigate through the bureaucracy,” Schnirman said at the March 18 City Council meeting. “The City Council has made it clear that the city needs to take a comprehensive approach towards making sure that everyone obtains the funding and resources they need and deserve to rebuild with resiliency. This program will help facilitate the permitting process, provide disaster case management and offer residents additional support services.”
According to the city, the program is funded by a Community Development Block Grant that the city obtained from the state to accelerate the repair, reconstruction and replacement of residences affected by Sandy.
“The city established this partnership to help residents obtain the long-awaited funding and resources they need and deserve to rebuild resiliently,” Councilwoman Eileen Goggin said in a statement.
In Long Beach, 865 homes were deemed by the Federal Emergency Management Agency to be substantially damaged, meaning that the cost of repairs would be more than half the appraised value. Homeowners were told to either elevate or rebuild them.
