Posted on March 26, 2015 by in News // 3 Comments
Build it Back is on a mission to bring clients back. Although initially off to a rough start, the City’s Sandy recovery program for homeowners is on the right track and organizers are encouraging those who gave up, to come back to the program.
In a meeting sponsored by Councilman Donovan Richards, Build it Back Director Amy Peterson, representatives from the program and several Sandy recovery nonprofits, came out to St. John’s Baptist Church in Arverne on Monday, March 23, to give residents updates on the program and assistance with their individual cases.
“We’re doing a lot of things to try to get more money to you and to get the work done faster, by bringing on more resources. We’re also going to try to reach out and get everyone who signed up for the program originally, to come back,” Peterson said to the crowd of about 40 people. “A lot of people got frustrated and dropped out. Now is the time for them to come back to the process.”
Peterson started by discussing the program’s progress. As of this week, more than 3,000 reimbursement checks have been sent out around the city, with $6 million worth of checks going to those in the local area so far. The program has also started construction on close to 1,100 homes around the city and more than 500 homes have been fully repaired.
Things are only expected to get better with the program. With more CDBG money pouring in to Build it Back, gone are the days of the priority lists. Peterson says there is enough money to assist everyone who is eligible for the program’s options. “We have enough money. We’ve made a commitment to serve everybody,” she said.
The program is also hiring more contractors and in partnership with Workforce1, more people are being trained with the skills needed to repair and build homes. A representative from Small Business Services was on hand to discuss the Sandy Recovery Workforce1 program. “We’re directly matching people to the jobs with the employers that will be doing the recovery work for Build it Back,” the SBS rep said. In addition to offering jobs to qualified local workers, Workforce1 will also launch a pre-apprenticeship training program in which they’ll give out vouchers to Sandy impacted residents who may be interested in a job in the unionized construction industry. Workforce1 is still in the process of developing these programs, but will soon hand out vouchers to those who are interested. “I want nothing more than for these vouchers to go those in the 11691, 11691, 11693 and 11694 zip codes,” Peterson said. Those interested in a job are encouraged to register at www.sandyrecoveryopportunities.com.
Peterson spoke about each option offered to single-family homeowners through the program, saying that reimbursement is the most popular at this point. “Sending out checks is a process we’ve gotten to work pretty well,” she said. “People should be getting their reimbursement checks. The checks can get out the door quickly if you’ve had your damage assessment and chosen your benefits.” Those opting to have their homes repaired are also seeing the process run more smoothly.
Another option is to repair a home and elevate it, which Peterson says the city is also getting a good handle on. Those with substantially damaged homes, or those having their homes completely rebuilt, are eligible for elevation. “If you’re eligible, it’s the way to go. It will help with your flood insurance premiums,” Peterson said. “We’re working with the city to move elevations forward more easily. There were a lot of issues with people elevating their homes and having to cut a small part of the home off. We’re trying to get to a place where people can elevate their home to the way it was before the storm.” All homes being rebuilt through Build it Back are being built two feet above the Base Flood Elevation level established by FEMA. Those who want to raise their homes even higher, say to park a car under it, can pay the additional costs to have it raised higher. Those eligible for a complete rebuild are homeowners whose homes were completely destroyed or had to be demolished due to Sandy.
The last option available to those whose homes were completely destroyed or “substantially damaged” is acquisition for redevelopment. “Substantially damaged” means that the damage is 50 percent or greater of the value of the building structure. In a partnership with New York State, some owners have to option to sell their home to the state, with the state determining the home’s worth. Peterson called this option a “complicated process,” but added that “it is a real option. For some of you, it may be the right option.”
Peterson also spoke about the City’s new temporary relocation program. “If you hear neighbors say they can’t afford to vacate their home during construction, we’re now going to pay for their rent,” she said. Through the program, homeowners will be reimbursed for their temporary rental costs for the time they’re out of their home during Build it Back construction, as long as it’s longer than 30 days. “Homeowners will be reimbursed for that amount up to a certain level, for example $1,500 a month for a one family household,” she said. “This is exciting. It’s important and we’re trying to make it as simple as possible.” With this option becoming available in April, Peterson advises property owners to start advertising apartments that they’re willing to rent out on a short-term lease, since these rental options are not always easy to come by and many will be looking for them soon. Since the rent will be reimbursed, Peterson said people who can’t afford it upfront, can work with nonprofits to obtain loans.
This lead to questions from the audience, with one asking if the relocation program would also cover the rent for tenants, to which Peterson said no. Rent would only be reimbursed for homeowners. This lead to a questions from another audience member who asked if Build it Back would pay their mortgage after they lose their tenants during the construction process. They were also told no.
Following Peterson, Councilman Richards addressed the crowd saying, “We don’t intend on building this community back to the same place it was before the storm. We hope to build it better. We still have a lot of work to do, but I’m grateful for the partnership we have with Build it Back.”
In its effort to recruit people back into the Build it Back program, residents who gave up can expect to start receiving calls and letters from representatives. Build it Back will also have two more info sessions in April. They will be at the Rockaway YMCA from 6 to 9 p.m. on April 13 and at Battalion Pentecostal Church at 7 p.m. on April 22.
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