State Still Trying to Give Away $100 Million to Elevate Homes

The state has $100 million to give to property owners in New Jersey to elevate their shore homes, but with less than two weeks before the deadline passes, only 180 owners in Cape May County have applied for the grants.

Each of the Cape May County applicants to date has been successful in receiving a grant of up to $30,000, according to Scott Brubaker, director of the state Hazard Mitigation Grant Program (HMGP).

"We believe there are many more folks who would benefit," Brubaker said. "We anticipated more applications."

The deadline to apply for the grants is Sunday, Sept. 15.

Three public information sessions are scheduled in Cape May County to help answer questions about the program:

SEPTEMBER 9, 2013 - 6:00 pm
Lower Township Town Hall
2600 Bayshore Road, Lower Township, NJ

SEPTEMBER 10, 2013 - 6:00 pm
Ocean City Free Public Library
1735 Simpson Avenue, Ocean City, NJ

SEPTEMBER 12, 2013 - 6:00 pm
Avalon Community Hall
3001 Avalon Avenue, Avalon, NJ

Governor Christie launched the $100 million grant program in July, and it targets homes in the nine counties hardest hit by Sandy. The program provides up to $30,000 of reimbursement for eligible homeowners to elevate their primary single-family residences. Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) funds finance the program.

About eligibility:

• Second homeowners are not eligible. The primary single-family residence must have been owned and occupied by the homeowner at the time of Superstorm Sandy.
• A structure need not have been damaged to qualify.
• No income restrictions or requirements.
• Applicants need not to have applied to FEMA for other relief.
• The program is limited to homes located in the 100-year floodplain.
• Homeowners targeted for buy-out under the State’s HMGP acquisition program are not eligible to apply.
• Applications will be prioritized by flooding risk and defined by how much higher a home needs to be elevated to meet New Jersey’s design elevation standards according to the most recent FEMA preliminary work maps.

• The application period closes on Sept. 15.
• Online: Visit www.renewjerseystronger.org
• By phone: Call 1-855-SANDYHM (1-855-726-3946)
• In Person: Visit a Housing Recovery Center (The Cape May County Housing Recovery Center is at 3860 Bayshore Road, Suite 5, North Cape May).

"We believe and FEMA believes that these elevations will certainly pay for themselves," Brubaker said.