Neighborhood Recovery Fund Looks To Cover Unmet Housing Needs

Still need some financial help to bridge the gap between insurance and FEMA funds in your personal Sandy Recovery? Neighborhood Recovery Fund (NRF) is a fund created to provide financial assistance to homeowners devastated by Hurricane Sandy, and they’re seeking applications.

The NRF’s main goal is to make sure that New York City homeowners have access to affordable sustainable housing by providing up to a $5,000 grant or interest free loan for expenses not covered by FEMA and homeowner insurances.

According to the Center for New York City Neighborhood’s website, the NRF covers the following expenses, depending on the availability of funds:

• Expenses for Temporary Shelter
• Relocation expenses
• Utility Arrears
• Mortgage payment or arrears (if ineligible for MAP)
• Income shock related to displaced tenant
• Temporary or preventative repairs, including:
  • Winterization
  • Sealing of building
• Selected pre-approved home repairs, including:
  • Mold abatement
  • Removal of drywall
  • Replacement of boiler or hot water heater
• Development of scope of work for repairs or contractor estimates
• Gap financing or credit enhancement for other repair program

Applicants applying for NRF funding will be reviewed on a case by case basis. Priority is given to applicants whose annual household income is at or below 200 percent of the Area Median Income (AMI). Here is a chart breaking down exactly what this means.

If you are a homeowner and wish to apply to the program, you can call (646) 786-0888, and you’ll be connected with a free housing consular or legal services provider who will help you work through your application process. After you apply, it will take 1-2 weeks for your case to be reviewed.

Here is the full contact address:

Sustainable Neighborhoods, LLC
c/o CNYCN
74 Trinity Place, Suite 1400
New York, NY 10006

E-mail: NRF@cnycn.org

Phone: (646) 786-0888

Fax: (646) 349-1578