Sandy Victims Reminded of March 20 Deadline to Apply to LMI Homeowners

TRENTON – The Christie Administration announced that the deadline for low- to moderate-income (LMI) families to apply for the LMI Homeowners Rebuilding Program is this March 20, and urged eligible Sandy-impacted homeowners in need of assistance to apply to the program.
The Administration today also reminded eligible storm-affected families that they have until April 6th to apply to the Sandy Tenant-Based Rental Assistance Program.
If any eligible homeowner or tenant has questions or needs assistance in applying to either program, the Sandy Recovery Housing Counseling Program is available to assist these families in accessing the two housing programs and a wide array of available services.
The Low- to Moderate-Income Homeowners Rebuilding Program provides reconstruction, rehabilitation and elevation assistance to LMI homeowners who were impacted by Superstorm Sandy and whose storm-damaged primary residence is located in one of the nine counties the federal government designated as most impacted by the storm (Atlantic, Bergen, Cape May, Essex, Hudson, Middlesex, Monmouth, Ocean, and Union). This program aims to help those LMI homeowners who did not apply to the Reconstruction, Rehabilitation, Elevation, and Mitigation (RREM) Program, and includes a portion of funding set aside for owners of manufactured housing units/mobile homes.
Sandy-impacted owners of manufactured housing units/mobile homes are strongly encouraged to apply by 11:59 p.m. March 20 as the State is working with the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to ensure the LMI Program effectively assists these homeowners. Therefore, they should apply by this Friday’s extended deadline to make sure they are considered for funding. The original application deadline of March 4 was extended to March 20th in an effort to ensure that as many eligible Sandy-impacted families as possible receive housing recovery assistance.
Homeowners must qualify as low- to moderate-income based on their household adjusted gross annual income at the time they submit an application. For more information, including the chart providing the income limits that apply to the program, visit www.renewjerseystronger.org/homeowners/lmi-homeowners-rebuilding-program/.
The Sandy Tenant-Based Rental Assistance (TBRA) Program provides short-term tenant-based rental assistance in the form of a voucher to assist eligible low- and moderate-income households with their rent in the nine counties most impacted by Superstorm Sandy. The tenant-based rental assistance will be for 12 months with an option to renew for up to an additional 12 months. No extensions beyond 24 months can be granted.
Applicants must qualify as low- to moderate-income, which means their household gross income must be at or below 80 percent of the Area Median Income for their county. The income limits are established by household size and are revised annually by HUD. For more information, including the chart providing the income limits that apply to the program, visit: ww.renewjerseystronger.org/renters/sandy-tenant-based-rental-assistance-program/.
The Sandy Recovery Housing Counseling Program offers free housing counseling services certified by HUD to renters and homeowners who were impacted by Superstorm Sandy and lived in one of the nine counties most impacted by the storm at the time of Sandy. Offices are located in each of the nine Sandy-impacted counties.
Housing counselors provide helpful information about programs and resources that are available to renters and homeowners who are still recovering from Superstorm Sandy. As part of the counseling process, counselors will ask questions and collect specific information from clients to develop a customized counseling plan specific to the needs of the renter or homeowner. The counseling plan may include individualized or group counseling services in the following areas:
• Foreclosure Prevention
• Homelessness Prevention
• Fair Housing Education
• Reverse Mortgage/Home Equity Conversion Mortgage
• Rental Counseling
• Pre/Post Home Purchase Counseling
As part of the counseling plan, housing counselors will schedule regular meetings, share information about upcoming events or information sessions, and provide supportive services to eligible program applicants.
To be eligible for free counseling services, renters and homeowners must have been impacted by Sandy and lived in one of the nine counties most affected by the storm at the time of Sandy.
Additional information, including the organizations providing the counseling services and their locations, can be obtained at http://www.renewjerseystronger.org/renters/sandy-recovery-housing-counseling-program/.