Homeowner Reconstruction, Rehabilitation, Elevation and Mitigation (RREM) Program: This $600 million program will provide eligible homeowners up to $150,000 in grant funds to aid the reconstruction, rehabilitation, elevation and mitigation of damaged primary homes. The program is intended to fill the gap between the costs needed to repair the home and other sources of funds the homeowner has received to repair their home such as insurance payments or assistance from FEMA or the U.S. Small Business Administration. Additionally, the program will help homeowners with the construction process by developing repair specifications, identifying qualified builders to do the construction work, and ensuring the quality of the work completed. Seventy percent of the funds will be reserved for low-to-moderate-income households in accordance with federal requirements.

All applicants under the RREM Program must have registered for assistance with FEMA and must have a household adjusted gross annual income of less than $250,000. Priority will be given to homes that are deemed “substantially damaged” (damages exceed 50% of a home’s assessed value) as a result of Sandy.

Homeowner Resettlement Program: This $180 million program is aimed at encouraging Sandy-impacted homeowners to remain in the nine counties that were most seriously affected by the storm. This program will provide $10,000 grants to eligible homeowners to encourage them to resettle in their existing home or resettle in the same county and in so doing will help to restore home values and stabilize many devastated communities. Homeowners must agree to remain in the county of their damaged residence for three consecutive years following the grant award. Sixty percent of the funds will be reserved for low-to-moderate-income households in accordance with federal requirements.

All applicants under the Resettlement Program must have registered for assistance with the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and must have sustained at least $8,000 in damages or more than one foot of flooding on the first floor as a result of Sandy.

Additional Details:

The federal funding for these grant programs is limited and it is anticipated that absent an additional allocation from HUD, up to 6,000 households will receive a RREM grant and up to 18,000 households will receive a Resettlement grant. Therefore, while there is no formal deadline for accepting applications, there will be an initial application period that will run from May 24, 2013 to June 30, 2013. All completed RREM and Resettlement applications received by June 30 will then be in the first group to be processed. Once the application period closes, selection will prioritize those homeowners with the most damage (i.e., substantial, severe and major), whose homes are in the most impacted counties (i.e., Atlantic, Monmouth and Ocean), and who are of low- to moderate-income.

Whether individuals applied online, over the phone, or in person at a Sandy Housing Assistance Center, the State will ensure that all applicants have an equal chance to be selected through the process identified above. To accomplish this, the order in which applicants will be selected for processing following the end of the initial application period will be determined by an electronic random ordering process. In early July, applicants will be notified of their place on the list and whether they will receive an award out of HUD’s initial allocation of funding. Anyone who is not successful in getting an award will be placed on a waiting list pending a future allocation from HUD. An announcement on future allocations is expected in September.

Applications will continue to be accepted after June 30, 2013, but these applicants will be processed only after all the most impacted homeowners from the first group have been served.

For more information on the reNew Jersey Stronger housing assistance initiative, including details about the application process, determination of eligibility, and award calculation, visit www.renewjerseystronger.org or call the hotline number 1-855-SANDYHM (1-855-726-3946). Locations and directions to the Sandy Housing Assistance Centers that are opening June 8 will be posted at www.renewjerseystronger.org as the information becomes available.

Rental inspections are conducted in two time frames: 9 a.m. to 12 Noon and 1 to 4:00 p.m. The CO application WITH A C.C.O. Application (see below) and fee must be received in the Code office BEFORE scheduling your appointment.

Download the forms below, attach your payment, email us at (housing@seaside-heightsnj.org) or call with your choice of day, morning or afternoon segment.

IF YOU ARE RENTING, ALL UNITS ARE REQUIRED TO HAVE AN INSPECTION.

Appointments/inspections will not be made unless the completed form and payment has been received in our office.

 Return to your property CCO form

 Rental Certificate of Occupancy form

 Community Development Block Grant Disaster Recovery Action Plan

Mold Training for Homeowners and Volunteers

This course provides mold awareness and general safety procedures for homeowners and volunteers when dealing with post hurricane/flood clean-up issues.

WATER/SEWER SERVICE
Call the Borough Main office to make your appointment to have the water and sewer reactivated. You MUST BE PRESENT ON THE DAY AND TIME OF THE WATER REACTIVATION.

NEW JERSEY NATURAL GAS (Gas Service)
You must have a licensed plumber or a certified person to do a pressure test. They must sign and seal (or have a contractor number) on the white card (door hanger) that was left on your gas meter.

UPDATE – 4/30/2013 – We will be notifying Robin Hood relief applicants of their approvals soon.  To expedite the process, please be ready to verify prior income to satisfy their means testing at the time of approval.