Disaster Relief Programs Announced by State

Community Development Block Grant-Disaster Relief (CDBG-DR) funds are one step closer, Township Administrator and Municipal Clerk Veronica Laureigh said.

The following programs have been announced by the State.

"At this time there are only outlines for each program. We expect full guidelines to be released in the very near future," she said.

An overview of the programs that offer the greatest opportunity for residents and municipalities are outlined below, as provided by Laureigh. The programs are first come, first served.

Homeowner Reconstruction, Rehabilitation, Elevation and Mitigation (RREM) Program

The RREM program will provide grant awards to eligible homeowners to restore their storm-damaged homes, including rehabilitation, reconstruction, elevation and/or other mitigation activities. The program will also provide reimbursement for eligible expenses incurred prior to the implementation of this program.  The initial phase of the program will be allocated 70% for low and moderate income (LMI) households and 30% for higher income households. Program funds will be allocated on a first come-first served basis.

The program prioritizes homes with “substantial damage,” as determined by New Jersey floodplain managers, regardless of zone.

Maximum Award: $150,000 per home

Eligible Applicants: Homeowners whose primary residences sustained “substantial,” major and severe damage from Superstorm Sandy.

 Eligibility Criteria:

• Home must have been owner-occupied at the time of the storm.
• Home must have served as primary residence.
• Home must have been in one of the nine most impacted and distressed counties.
• Homeowner must have been registered with FEMA.
• Homeowner must have a household adjusted gross annual income of less than $250,000.

Homeowner Resettlement Program

The Homeowner Resettlement Program was created to provide struggling homeowners with much-needed resources to resettle in their homes. Funds will be distributed on a first-come, first-served basis.   Initially, 60% of the funds are reserved for Low/Moderate Income families in accordance with HUD income guidelines.

Maximum Award: $10,000 per home

Eligible Applicants: Homeowners whose primary residence sustained major and severe damage from Superstorm Sandy. The residence must be located in one of the nine most impacted counties.

Eligibility Criteria:

• Homeowner must have owned and occupied the home at the time of the storm.
• Home must have served as primary residence.
• Home must have sustained a Full Verified Loss (FVL) of $8,000 or greater or more than one foot of flooding on the first floor (Determined by FEMA).
• Homeowner must also apply for the New Jersey Homeowner Reconstruction, Rehabilitation, Elevation and Mitigation (RREM) program, another rehabilitation program, or otherwise take steps to repair or reconstruct their residence.