FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Friday, March 14, 2014

Christie Administration Announces Extension of FEMA Direct Housing Assistance for Sandy-Displaced Homeowners

Four-Month Extension Would Continue Assistance Through August 2014



Trenton, NJ – The Christie Administration today announced that the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has authorized a four-month extension of a Direct Housing Assistance program that continues to shelter 57 hard hit Sandy-impacted homeowners who have not been able to find more permanent housing or repair their storm-damaged homes.

The assistance, which was scheduled to end on April 30, 2014, was extended until August 31, 2014. Sandy-displaced homeowners who remain in FEMA temporary housing units will be charged fair market rent beginning May 1st. As of today, 34 of the homeowners are living in temporary housing at or near the former Fort Monmouth military base, which is located in close proximity to some of the most impacted communities. The other 23 homeowners are in manufactured housing units in commercial mobile home parks in Ocean, Monmouth and Atlantic counties.

When the Christie Administration requested a six-month extension of the temporary housing program from the Obama Administration on January 28, 2014, 81 families remained in the program.

In the aftermath of Superstorm Sandy, the Christie Administration requested the federal government to provide temporary housing for displaced residents at Fort Monmouth. The State also requested temporary housing units (THUs), or manufactured homes, so that residents wishing to be temporarily housed in or near their communities could do so. Since the program’s inception, more than 200 Sandy-displaced residents utilized the assistance: more than 120 at Fort Monmouth and more than 80 in THUs.

A copy of FEMA’s letter to the Governor’s Office of Recovery and Rebuilding is attached to the release.

CONTACT:
Lisa Ryan
Sean Conner
(609) 292-6055