This post was contributed by a community member. The views expressed here are the author's own.

Community Corner

Storm Sandy Rehabilitation and Rebuilding Grant Application Intake Center Opening at Milford's Parson Government Center

PRESS RELEASE:

STORM SANDY REHABILITATION AND REBUILDING GRANT APPLICATION INTAKE CENTER OPENING AT MILFORD’S PARSON GOVERNMENT CENTER

Milford, CT October 18, 2013: Mayor Ben Blake announced today that the Connecticut Department of Housing is opening Intake Centers across the State, including one at the Parson Government Center, 70 West River Street, Milford, CT for the purpose of accepting applications for the Storm Sandy Community Development Block Grant –Disaster Recovery (CDBG-DR) Owner-Occupied Rehabilitation and Rebuilding (OORR) Program.

Find out what's happening in Milfordwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

The State Department of Housing has allocated $30 million in federal funding for the (OORR) Program to support efforts to rebuild and renovate homes while addressing needs to prepare for future storms.  The Program is geared toward residents with unmet needs from Storm Sandy.  If eligible, Milford residents can receive assistance to rebuild and rehabilitate their homes damaged in the Storm. Milford residents who have experienced uninsured or uncovered losses as a result of Storm Sandy may be eligible for funding through this Program. 

The State’s housing recovery programs are designed to meet the housing needs of residents in communities most impacted by Storm Sandy that are not covered by insurance, FEMA and any other sources of funding. The general objectives of the State's OORR Program includes: assisting people directly affected by Storm Sandy; replacing and rehabilitating their homes; identifying mitigation measures; and improving the resilience(s) of their homes.

Find out what's happening in Milfordwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

The grant award for each eligible property ranges from $10,000 - $150,000.  The State will contract with the homeowner, and general contractor for the approved scope of work. The assistance provided will be secured with a five-year Deferred Forgivable Promissory Note that bears no interest. If the homeowner sells, transfers, or vacates the property for any period of time during the term of the five year Note, the repayment terms will be enforced.

 The Milford Intake Center will be available to assist residents in filling out and submitting their applications beginning Thursday, October 24, 2013 from 9 am to 7 pm, Monday through Friday, and 9 am to 3:30 pm on Saturdays. The Intake Center will be closed on all federal holidays and the Saturday after Thanksgiving.   The Intake Center will be open for a maximum of four months.

There will also be mobile application intake units to assist those who are unable to come to the Intake Center. Intake counselors will meet a person at their home or another place of the applicant’s choosing. The intake counselor will be equipped with a laptop/tablet and a mobile scanner to assist applicants in finishing their applications. Priority for this service will be given to elderly or disabled individuals. These mobile units will be able to continue assisting residents after the Intake Center closes.

Starting Monday, October 21, 2013, residents are encouraged to call the Program’s Call Center to schedule an appointment at the Intake Center.  The Call Center’s hours of operation are Monday through Saturday, 8 am to 10 pm. The number to call to schedule an appointment or to obtain more information about this Program is 1-866-272-1976.

 The online application will be live no later than October 24, 2013 and can be accessed at http://sandyctapplication.com/.

Background information on the program can be found in the State’s program fact sheet (attached) and at http://www.ct.gov/doh/cwp/view.asp?a=4513&Q=530630.   The State’s application instructions, which outline eligibility requirements, are also attached.  

 Mayor Blake said, “The City of Milford is here to assist our residents who are still dealing with the aftermath of Storm Sandy.  I encourage applicants to make an appointment as soon as possible since this Program is based on a first-come, first-served basis.”

 

We’ve removed the ability to reply as we work to make improvements. Learn more here

The views expressed in this post are the author's own. Want to post on Patch?