Housing (foreclosure protection & Aid)

On this page you will find information regarding your homes including foreclosure protection and relief assistance.

Last Updated Friday, November 2nd, at 6:00 P.M.

HUD Hurricane Sandy Website: http://portal.hud.gov/hudportal/HUD?src=/sandy

REGISTERING FOR FEMA ASSISTANCE

The President declared major disasters for Connecticut, New York and New Jersey, making disaster assistance available to those in the heaviest hit areas affected by the storm.  SBA provides loans to individuals as part of the Federal disaster assistance program. During the FEMA disaster registration process, applicants should also apply for a disaster loan through the Small Business Administration.

There are three ways to apply for assistance:

• Apply Online at DisasterAssistance.gov
• Apply via a smartphone at m.fema.gov
• Apply by Phone:

• Call (800) 621-3362.
• Call TTY (800) 462-7585 for people with speech or hearing disabilities.

FEMA is using extensive media messaging and will be working through community relations specialists to get the message out as widely as possible.  Disaster Recovery Centers will also be opened where disaster survivors can come, register for assistance and get additional information on available programs and services.

• HUD will make awards to local jurisdictions based on unmet needs using FEMA/SBA data. 
• Constituents can access a list of available properties via the FEMA Housing Portal: http://asd.fema.gov/inter/hportal/home.htm
• 7 Disaster Relief Centers are scheduled to open today. DRC location search is available online http://www.fema.gov/disaster-recovery-centers

Foreclosure Protection

• U.S. Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Secretary Shaun Donovan today announced HUD will speed federal disaster assistance to the State of New York and provide support to homeowners and low-income renters forced from their homes due to Hurricane Sandy.
  • On Friday, November 2nd, a disaster declaration was ordered for Bronx, Kings, Nassau, New York, Richmond, Suffolk, and Queens counties. This declaration allows HUD to offer foreclosure relief and other assistance to certain families living in these counties.

HUD is:

• Offering the State of New York and other entitlement communities the ability to re-allocate existing federal resources toward disaster relief – HUD's Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) and HOME programs give the State and communities the flexibility to redirect millions of dollars to address critical needs, including housing and services for disaster victims. HUD is currently contacting State and local officials to explore opportunities to use the Department's CDBG and HOME programs in order to expedite the repair and replacement of damaged housing;

• Granting immediate foreclosure relief – HUD granted a 90-day moratorium on foreclosures and forbearance on foreclosures of Federal Housing Administration (FHA)-insured home mortgages;
• Making mortgage insurance available - HUD's Section 203(h) program provides FHA insurance to disaster victims who have lost their homes and are facing the daunting task of rebuilding or buying another home. Borrowers from participating FHA-approved lenders are eligible for 100 percent financing;
• Making insurance available for both mortgages and home rehabilitation – HUD's Section 203(k) loan program enables those who have lost their homes to finance the purchase or refinance of a house along with its repair through a single mortgage. It also allows homeowners who have damaged houses to finance the rehabilitation of their existing single-family home; and
• Offering Section 108 loan guarantee assistance – HUD will offer state and local governments federally guaranteed loans for housing rehabilitation, economic development and repair of public infrastructure.