Politics & Government

Initial 'Deadline' Approaches for State's Sandy Grant Programs

By Daniel Nee

While there is no formal deadline for residents of New Jersey's nine counties most impacted by Hurricane Sandy to apply for two grant programs, those who fill out their applications by the end of the upcoming weekend will have first dibs at the federal dollars.

The programs, under the banner of the 'reNew Jersey Stronger' program, are administered by the state Department of Community Affairs. The program currently includes two grants — a $10,000 resettlement grant to defray living expenses to residents of storm-impacted areas; and the Reconstruction, Rehabilitation, Elevation and Mitigation (RREM) grant which gives storm victims up to $150,000 to repair their primary residences.

The money comes with a few strings. Both programs require that grant recipients be primary residents of their damaged homes, and the resettlement program obligates recipients to remain living in their home county for three years. About 60 percent of the funding has been set aside for households designated as being "low to moderate" income.

The state has been advising those interested in the grants to apply online, over the phone or at one of nine housing recovery centers by June 30.

"All completed applications received by June 30 will be in the first group to be processed and considered for a grant award," said Lisa Ryan, spokesperson for the Department of Community Affairs. "Any applications received after June 30th will be placed on a waiting list pending a future funding allocation from HUD [Housing and Urban Development], which we expect in September."

As of Wednesday, the department had received 10,615 applications for the Resettlement program and 9,234 applications for the RREM program, Ryan said.

Homeowners can apply for both grants at http://www.renewjerseystronger.org/ or by calling 1-855-SANDYHM.


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