September 27 2024
JOINT STATEMENT FROM:
NYS SENATOR TOM O’MARA, ASSEMBLYMAN PHIL PALMESANO, ASSEMBLYWOMAN MARJORIE BYRNES, ASSEMBLY JOE GIGLIO
On September 16, Hochul announced “that applications are now available for income eligible homeowners affected by severe storms and flooding that occurred in New York State in July and August 2024. Under this program, administered by Homes and Community Renewal (HCR), emergency home repair assistance may be available to impacted homeowners who reside in the impacted counties below. Funding up to $50,000 may be used for emergency housing repairs necessary to make the home safe, sanitary and habitable. Grants will be available on a first come, first served basis until funds are exhausted. Applications will be accepted until October 7, 2024.”
The state grant program covers Allegany and Steuben counties and, according to Hochul’s announcement, ‘funds are available to eligible homeowners for their primary residence where flood or insurance coverage or other forms of disaster recovery funds are not sufficient to return the home to a safe and habitable condition.” Details on the “Resilient and Ready Home Repair Program” are available here: https://hcr.ny.gov/resilient-and-ready-home-repair-programs.
Additionally, earlier this week Hochul announced that her September 7th request for a Major Disaster Declaration to provide federal assistance to communities impacted by Tropical Storm Debby on August 8-10 has been approved. The declaration allows for federal financial assistance to support public infrastructure reconstruction efforts in Allegany, Broome, Delaware, Essex, Franklin, Jefferson, Ontario, Steuben, St. Lawrence and Yates counties.
While welcoming the availability of state and federal assistance, the area lawmakers are urging Hochul to strengthen the state’s recovery and rebuilding response by:
➢ fully assuming the local share of the disaster-related costs;
➢ eliminating the current income thresholds for primary residences;
➢ amending the current aid program to include businesses; and
➢ extending the current October 7 deadline for applying for Emergency Repair Grant Funding for at least an additional 30 days until November 7.
Wlea reached out by email, to the governor’s office. As soon as we get a reply, we will post it.
