Message from Dan Mundy Re: Water Bill Rebates for Some "SANDY" Families

Water Bill Rebates for some Hurricane Families!

August 24, 2014

I received this information from Amy Peterson who is the director of the Build it Back Program . It pertains to refunds for DEP water Bills for those who were displaced after the storm. Some will receive this refund and others who deserve it may have been missed. If you are eligible (and i will post the notice that describes who is) contact the number below and ask to be included.

Dan Mundy Jr.

President

Broad Channel Civic Association

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As outlined in the report, One City, Rebuilding Together, the City committed to provide additional financial relief support to impacted homeowners by offering relief from NYC water bills for vacant homes.

Working with NYC Department of Environmental Protection (DEP), the Housing Recovery Office (HRO) identified over 1,500 homeowners eligible for this relief. The attached letter is being mailed to these homeowners today.

This list was compiled after a review of Build It Back and other properties by both HRO and DEP. These homeowners will receive a NYC Build it Back non-refundable credit of $750 on their next water bill. These people have been determined to have been out of their homes for a significant period of time between November 1, 2012 and June 30, 2014 and as a result had a minimum charge applied to their water and sewer bill. While the City used a number of factors and data sources to identify these homes, it is likely that homeowners who have been out of their homes for a significant period of time were not included in this initial list. Additional homeowners will be added as they are identified. 

Please have any homeowners that think they are eligible call the Build It Back Customer Service Line at (212) 615-8329 or e-mail housing@recovery.nyc.gov. 

The Mayor’s Office of Housing Recovery and DEP will review those properties and add those that meet the criteria to the list of eligible homeowners.

Thank you.
Amy Peterson

Director, N.Y.C. Build It Back Program

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What is the “NYC Build it Back Credit”?

The “NYC Build it Back Credit” is part of the larger effort by the City of New York to accelerate Hurricane Sandy recovery by providing financial relief to impacted homeowners. The “NYC Build it Back Credit” is a $750 credit applied to a homeowner’s water and sewer bill. The credit is meant to offset the minimum charge applied to certain accounts during time period of November 1, 2012 and June 30, 2014. 

What is a minimum charge?

DEP imposes a minimum charge on water and sewer usage when consumption is below a predefined minimum threshold. This charge is imposed on all properties regardless of occupancy. Immediately after the storm, there were many homeowners who had to vacate their homes for an extended period of time because of damages to the home caused by Hurricane Sandy. Although they did not consume water, properties that remained connected to DEP water service during their time away incurred a nominal minimum charge to their DEP account. The “NYC Build it Back Credit” relieves this additional financial burden so that homeowners can continue on their road to recovery.

Who is eligible for the credit?

Property owners who needed to vacate their homes during the period of November 1, 2012 and June 30, 2014 for an extended period of time due to unsafe or uninhabitable conditions caused by Hurricane Sandy and have had a minimum charge applied to their account are eligible for the “NYC Build it Back Credit.” Property owners who have already received relief through DEP’s suspension of bills due to service terminations as a result of the storm are not eligible for this credit. 

How did you know who is eligible for the credit?

DEP and the Mayor’s Office of Housing Recovery Office identified property owners who sustained significant damage to their property as a result of Hurricane Sandy and needed to vacate their homes for a significant period of time between November 1, 2012 and June 30, 2014. A wide range of information is being examined including: data from DEP, the Office of Emergency Management, the NYC Department of Buildings, and from New York City Build it Back Damage Assessors to determine that damage occurred to the home due to the storm.

I did not receive a credit but I believe I am eligible. What should I do? 

If you think you are eligible, please call the Build It Back Customer Service Line at (212) 615‐8329 or e‐mail housing@recovery.nyc.gov. The Mayor’s Office of Housing Recovery and DEP will review those properties and add those that meet the criteria to the list of eligible homeowners.