Accessing Assistance Following A Weather Disaster

Following the recent storm that devastated many in our region, my office has been working with local, county and state officials to get our residents and businesses the assistance they need.  We will post any updates on this site to keep everyone up-to-date on how to get the assistance they deserve.

NEW YORK HOMES AND COMMUNITY RENEWAL

New York State is launching an emergency repair program for homeowners affected by the torrential rains associated with the storm that impacted our region on Sunday, August 18th. Under the HCR program, homeowners may be eligible for grants of up to $50,000 to fund or reimburse certain qualifying health and safety related repairs to address damage caused by the storm that are not covered by insurance or other disaster relief programs.

UPDATE: On September 16th, 2024, the Suffolk County Fire, Rescue and Emergency Services – Office of Emergency Management informed our office that the application for the New York Homes and Community Renewal emergency repair program for homeowners in Nassau and Suffolk counties has officially opened.

The Long Island Housing Partnership, Inc. (LIHP), has been named as the designated Local Program Administrator for the New York State Resilient and Ready Home Repair Grant Program.  

Homeowners with direct damages sustained as a result of severe storms and flooding in Nassau and Suffolk Counties on August 18th and 19th to apply to the New York State Resilient and Ready Home Repair Grant Program.  Per the program guidelines it is available on a first come, first served basis and the deadline to apply is October 7, 2024. 

NOTE - DEADLINE EXTENED TO FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 8, 2024

Funds allocated under this Program will be limited to emergency housing repairs necessary to make the home safe, sanitary and habitable. Non urgent repairs or repairs to ancillary structures will not be funded under this program. Funds may only be used to address damage that occurred as a direct result of the storms and flooding as described above. Awards to homeowners for eligible activities, defined, here, on their Primary Residence, under this Program will be based only on the confirmed storm damage and the scope of work approved by the LPA. Homeowners may not qualify for a full grant award and in no event will the total grant award to any single applicant exceed $50,000. Homeowners Associations are not eligible entities. Homeowners must be income eligible, defined as an annual household income equal to or less than 150% of County Area Median Income based on household size (click here for income limit chart) 

Application: https://lihp.tfaforms.net/5103433

Program Guidelines: https://www.lihp.org/Content/resilient-and-ready-li-storm-guidelines.pdf

Required Document Checklist: https://www.lihp.org/Content/Resilient_and_Ready_Program_Checklist_Required_Documents.pdf

Any questions regarding this program should be directed to: NYSFloodProgram@LIHP.org or by phone (631) 435-4710

FROM THE OFFICE OF GOVERNOR KATHY HOCHUL: Governor Kathy Hochul today announced that applications are now available for income eligible homeowners affected by severe storms and flooding that occurred in New York State in July and August 2024. Under this program, administered by Homes and Community Renewal (HCR), emergency home repair assistance may be available to impacted homeowners who reside in the impacted counties below. Funding up to $50,000 may be used for emergency housing repairs necessary to make the home safe, sanitary and habitable. Grants will be available on a first come, first served basis until funds are exhausted. Applications will be accepted until October 7, 2024. (CLICK HERE TO READ THE FULL RELEASE).

More information on the program, including guidelines, administrators and income requirements is available by storm on HCR's website.

Homeowners that previously completed the online homeowner inquiry form will be contacted by their respective administrator.

Below are some information/guidelines for the HCR grant reimbursement program that you can share with homeowners impacted by the recent storm. 

• If a homeowner completed the homeowner inquiry form, they will receive a notification when the local administrators open the application. 

• Program guidelines are posted online here: https://hcr.ny.gov/resilient-and-ready-program-guidelines-long-island-storm. These guidelines will describe generally eligible or ineligible repairs.

• Homeowners will be required to provide documentation to allow the Local Program Administrators to verify eligibility criteria including, but not limited to income, ownership of the home, primary residency, insurance coverage and specific storm damage. Homeowners should prepare by documenting storm damage with clear photographs and retaining invoices for any storm repair work completed for consideration as well as preparing copies of documentation related to each of the other stated eligibility criteria: ID, deeds to document ownership, tax returns, insurance denial documentation. These materials should be provided to the Local Program Administrator at the time of the application. Please do not send this to HCR.

And we must make sure that every single residents who has been impacted is helped and is able to recover.