Mayor Bloomberg & Senator Lanza Announce Nyc Build It Back Program to Help New Yorkers WITH Homes Damaged by Hurricane Sandy Recover and Rebuild

Using Federal Aid, NYC Build it Back Addresses Housing Needs for Affected Residents 

Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg and Senator Andrew Lanza today announced NYC Build it Back, a new City program to assist homeowners, landlords and tenants in the five boroughs whose homes were impacted by Hurricane Sandy. In the days following the storm, the City led one of the fastest disaster recovery efforts ever seen, helping more than 20,000 families return to their homes through the Rapid Repairs program, and that work continues today. As the City shifts its focus to long-term rebuilding, NYC Build it Back is designed to make the newly available Federal aid simple and understandable, and the program will provide assistance – including grants and loans – to New Yorkers still recovering from the storm. New York City residents can begin registering for the program by calling 311 or visiting www.nyc.gov. NYC Build it Back provides multiple pathways to help affected residents return to more sustainable housing and recover out-of-pocket costs resulting from the storm. Beginning next month, registrants will be contacted by a Housing Recovery Specialist who will help them review their options and guide them through each step of the process. 

NYC Build it Back provides four pathways to help New Yorkers affected by Hurricane Sandy return to sustainable homes:

Repair: A NYC Build it Back professional contractor can help eligible participants whose homes require minor to moderate repairs. Registrants also have the option of selecting their own contractor within Federal and program guidelines.

Rebuild: If a home is substantially damaged and needs to be rebuilt, qualifying participants can choose a home model that is designed specifically for their community, uses the best available resiliency standards and is designed by a NYC Build it Back developer. Alternatively, registrants can choose their own architect and contractor to develop and build their homes within Federal and program guidelines.

Reimbursement: The City can also help participants recover eligible out-of-pocket costs for minor repairs already made to their homes that satisfy all Department of Housing and Urban Development and other requirements.

Acquisition: Some owners may want to voluntarily sell their homes and in some cases, the City will be able to work with communities to strategically redevelop these properties in a smarter, more resilient way. Housing Recovery Specialists will be able to explain these options.

NYC Build it Back is funded with approximately $648 million in Federal disaster recovery funds passed by Congress earlier this year, which included an initial $1.77 billion Community Development Block Grant-Disaster Recovery allocation through the Department of Housing and Urban Development. In order to address the highest need families first, the City will prioritize the limited initial funding based on the level of damage and financial need, using national objectives set by the Department of Housing and Urban Development.

For more information or to register for the program, call 311 or visit www.nyc.gov.