Ida Recovery FAQ

Now that state grant programs for Hurricane Ida are finally out, we’ve been hosting community meetings in some of our state’s hard-hit towns (learn more and RSVP to attend a meeting here). Thank you so much to everyone who’s attended so far! We’ve had some great questions come out of these meetings, and we’re working alongside the Department of Community Affairs (DCA)- the people in charge of giving out these grants- to get these questions answered quickly and accurately. We’ll continue to update this page with FAQs as we continue to host community meetings.

These questions are about the aid sources available through the state of New Jersey’s Community Development Block Grant for Disaster Recovery (CDBG-DR) recovery programs, which you can apply for here.

Below is a linked list of the questions so you can find what you need fast.

Homeowner Assistance and Recovery Program (HARP)

How soon after the program deadline will we see the money?

DCA anticipates to begin giving out awards in July.

What are the requirements for raising a home?

Substantially damaged and substantially improved properties in the Special Flood Hazard Area or other areas designated by the State will be required to elevate. DCA will provide services to develop their scopes of work when elevation is required. All properties requiring elevation will be designed such that the lowest habitable floor is elevated to the Design Flood Elevation (DFE) determined by the Department of Environmental Protection, minimum Base Flood Elevation (BFE) plus three (3) feet, or as required by the local jurisdiction, whichever is highest.

DCA will provide services to develop their scopes of work when elevation is required. All properties requiring elevation will be designed such that the lowest habitable floor is elevated to the Design Flood Elevation (DFE) determined by the Department of Environmental Protection, minimum Base Flood Elevation (BFE) plus three (3) feet, or as required by the local jurisdiction, whichever is highest.

If funds remain available, elevation assistance may be offered to other program participants who are interested in elevating their property. These instances will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis.

How will the flood insurance requirement work?

You do not need to have flood insurance to qualify for these grants if you’re a homeowner or a landlord. However, if you do accept grant funding, you will from that point be required to obtain and maintain a flood insurance policy through the National Flood Insurance Program assuming that you live in a flood zone as recognized by FEMA and flood insurance is available to you.

There are two pretty specific catches here – probably won’t apply to a ton of people but if they apply to you – rut roh.

If your property is located in a 100 year flood plain (aka you needed to have flood insurance), you make 120% of AMI, and you didn’t have NFIP-backed flood insurance or equivalent private insurance when the storm hit you’re not eligible for the HARP Program.
If you’d gotten grant funds previously and were required to keep flood insurance after (this is a requirement) and didn’t, you’re not eligible for the HARP Program.

Landlords – if your rentals should have had flood insurance, then this would also apply to you.

If you have private flood insurance, and that private flood insurance meets the requirements then you should be okay. This is sort of new ground – so please connect with us if you have private flood insurance.

You’d know you met the requirements because you’d find the following statement within your policy or as an endorsement to the policy by the insurer: “This policy meets the definition of private flood insurance contained in 42 U.S.C. 4012a(b)(7) and the corresponding regulation.” Here’s a good summary guide put out by FDIC.

Here’s a story from one of our members who’s a homeowner and Ida survivor:

Debby wanted to apply for a grant to elevate her home and be better prepared for the next storm. However, she had flood insurance through a private company. She got conflicting information from different sources about whether or not she would qualify. We worked together to reach out to DCA and here’s what they said:

“With so many different funding sources involved in Ida recovery, it’s better to let folks apply and let us communicate specific rules depending on the funding source.”

In other words, it can be on a case-by-case basis, but don’t let this stop you from applying.

How will the flood insurance requirement work if you’re not in a flood zone?

If you don’t live in a flood zone, you are not required to have flood insurance if you take grant funding.

Does an elevation grant cover 100% of elevation and construction costs?

The maximum award amount for single-unit homes is $300,000.

Does elevation affect my taxes and insurance?

Look. This is a REAL question. After Sandy, folks found, for example, that their towns reassessed their properties and suddenly their tax payments weren’t affordable. Not every town went crazy, but some did. It’s also not clear what would happen to local taxes if a significant number of homes in that community participated in buyouts, meaning there would be less homes to tax.

AND, if you were already carrying flood insurance – cool. Maybe you elevate and your flood insurance premium gets more affordable – that is often the case. However they have a new system out now called Risk Rating 2.0 so we can’t say for sure this would be true like it was during Sandy.

But if you haven’t been carrying flood insurance – you’d need to factor in that payment as well. These are two additional costs to consider – taxes and flood insurance – as you make your decision about what program you’re interested in.

Who qualifies for HARP?

Can I apply for this program? YES IF:

Your house was your primary residence during Hurricane Ida – in other words you don’t live in Nebraska and own a summer home in New Jersey
You lived in your house during Hurricane Ida
You still own your home at the time you apply for this grant
Your house had at least 1 foot of flooding or $8,000 worth of damages. How much the damage you had was worth is determined by FEMA during their inspection process or a another agency that does assessments like the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP)
Your house is in: Bergen, Essex, Hudson, Middlesex, Passaic, Somerset, Union, Gloucester, Hunterdon, Mercer, Morris, or Warren county.

What are my chances of getting into the program?

Good question! As you know, we’re concerned about there being enough funds available to get Ida families home and whole, and that’s why some groups who are part of this effort are working to get the state to allocate additional funding. So, because there is only so much money available, low to moderate income folks, folks who are 62 years old or older, and/or folks who have a disability are always first within each group in line. Now, let’s break down where you fall in all of this.

The first group in line:

Lives in Bergen, Essex, Gloucester, Hudson, Hunterdon, Mercer, Middlesex, Morris, Passaic, Somerset, Union, and Warren counties
AND your household income meets the grant guidelines to be first in line- which is at or below 80% of AMI (see the charts in the weeds section of our Hurricane Ida Explainer – we have some info there to help you guesstimate).

The second group in line:

Lives in Bergen, Essex, Gloucester, Hudson, Hunterdon, Mercer, Middlesex, Morris, Passaic, Somerset, Union, and Warren counties
AND your household income meets the guidelines to be second in line – which is at or below 120% of AMI (again, see the charts in the weeds section of the Hurricane Ida Explainer).

The third group in line:

Lives in Bergen, Essex, Gloucester, Hudson, Hunterdon, Mercer, Middlesex, Morris, Passaic, Somerset, Union, and Warren counties
AND your household makes less than $250,000 (see in the weeds section of the Hurricane Ida Explainer for how that’s counted).

Does HARP reimburse for repairs that are already done?

It’s important to remember that these grants are not intended to reimburse you for previous recovery related expenses. This means that if you’ve already spent your own money on recovery efforts, you cannot get your money back by applying for these grants. Some groups who are part of this effort are working on legislation that could give us more flexibility.

You can join the fight to get more funding for Ida survivors RIGHT NOW. We talked a bit about the two bills we’re trying to pass to get MORE recovery money and support for storm survivors in New Jersey (click here to learn more about these). But to make this happen we need all of you to sign our petition to show our elected officials that there’s wide support for these bills. In order to have a chance at passing these bills, we need at least 1,000 signatures. So, sign and share the petition with anyone and everyone you know.

How long does it take to raise your home?

That’s funny. Depends on if your contractor is able to stay on schedule, and how it is to pull permits in your town. We’ve seen folks run into problems and it can take a year or two. Our ED had a relatively seamless house lift and that took 8 months.

Is there money for temporary housing while your house is getting raised?

Yes. There is rental assistance included in the HARP Program if you need to live somewhere else while your house is getting repaired.

If I qualify for HARP do I have to pay it back or is this a grant?

It’s a grant. You don’t have to pay it back. Yay! (unless you get a clawback!)

Can we submit for HARP and Blue Acre switch the understanding we would choose one?

Yep. IF you are even possibly interested in getting a buyout, we encourage you to fill out the application. Blue Acres has told us that they literally cannot fight to get NJ more funding for buyouts if they don’t get applications from folks telling them they are interested. Finally, just because you submit an application does not mean you have to take a buyout. An application just means you are POSSIBLY interested in a buyout. Even if you don’t end up taking it, maybe it helps raise funds for another family who needs to move to be safe.

Can I get switched from the Blue Acres Program to the HARP program if I applied for Blue Acres, but want to stay?

Totally. Just let Blue Acres know that you are no longer interested.

Does money you took out of your retirement to do repairs count towards your AMI?

If you can show it was a one time thing, related to the disaster and not your usual income then probably not.

Will the HARP program pay to move furnaces to the attic?

Yep. The HARP program covers rehabilitation, reconstruction, elevation, and other mitigation activities. Other mitigation activities include moving utilities up.

Can I apply for HARP if my roof was damaged?

Yes. As long as you meet all of these requirements you can apply for the HARP program.

Your house was your primary residence during Hurricane Ida – in other words you don’t live in Nebraska and own a summer home in New Jersey
You lived in your house during Hurricane Ida
You still own your home at the time you apply for this grant
Your house had at least 1 foot of flooding or $8,000 worth of damages. How
much the damage you had was worth is determined by FEMA during their inspection process or a another agency that does assessments like the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP)
Your house is in: Bergen, Essex, Hudson, Middlesex, Passaic, Somerset, Union, Gloucester, Hunterdon, Mercer, Morris, or Warren county.

Does the HARP program cover separate buildings from your main house (ex: garage, shop, apartment on my property)?

Sadly, no. But we are working on a bill that might be able to cover you. You can join the fight to get more funding for Ida survivors RIGHT NOW. We talked a bit about the two bills we’re trying to pass to get MORE recovery money and support for storm survivors in New Jersey (click here to learn more about these). But to make this happen we need all of you to sign our petition to show our elected officials that there’s wide support for these bills. In order to have a chance at passing these bills, we need at least 1,000 signatures. So, sign and share the petition with anyone and everyone you know.

Are there limits to how much HARP will give for reconstruction?

The maximum grant for an individual household is $300,000 but they will determine how much they believe you need.

Yes, if you claim him on your taxes. But also remember that folks who are above 62 or have disabilities are first in line for HARP.

How long do I have to hold on to flood insurance if I apply for the HARP Program?

If you accept funds from the HARP Program, will from that point on be required to obtain and maintain a flood insurance policy through the National Flood Insurance Program assuming that you live in a flood zone as recognized by FEMA and flood insurance is available to you.

Does the grant allow you to choose your own contractor?

Yes.

What happens if I lose documentation required to apply for HARP?

We don’t know! Ask the DCA and then tell us what they say.

If I received funds from FEMA, do I still qualify for HARP?

Yes, but the funds could count against your total grant in the sense that if they are considered a duplication of benefits you would get less from HARP than you might have otherwise.

Does HARP cover outside damage – driveway, pool, etc?

No.

Do I have to be 62 at time of flood? Or 62 now?

You need to be 62 at the time of application.

Buyouts

How does Blue Acres determine how much to offer for a buyout?

Well it depends on where the money that is funding your buyout comes from.

Do you have flood insurance backed by the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP)?

FEMA FMA Grants can only be used for homes that have NFIP-backed flood insurance. FMA Grant applications are competitive and they require Blue Acres to perform a benefit-costs analysis to demonstrate that the benefits of purchasing and demolishing your home are greater than the costs of other options (such as taking no action and continuing to pay out flood insurance claims). Yeah, FEMA is not our favorite right now. FYI. Anyhow, FEMA, bless their hearts, wants to ensure it’s cost effective to buy out your house. Since FMA Grants are competitive, Blue Acres doesn’t know how much money is available to compete for or how much we will get. These grants are available every year, but they are competitive and the amount available can change every year.

Do you have no flood insurance or private insurance that is not backed by NFIP?

FEMA HMGP Grants or HUD CDBG-DR grants can be used for folks that fall into these categories (or even if you have the NFIP). And, HUD CDBG-DR grant funding doesn’t require Blue Acres to do a cost benefit analysis of your house like the FEMA HMGP grants do (we explain above). However – these HUD grant funds come per disaster – we don’t need to compete for them every year. On the one hand – awesome – flood communities shouldn’t have to compete to stay safe. On the other hand, when the money runs out, it’s out.

Are you a priority because of the income levels in your community or how impacted your county was or both?

HUD CDBG-DR grants are meant to prioritize low and moderate income communities and hardest hit areas. There is no cost benefit analysis requirement for this funding and there is more flexibility on the NFIP/Flood Insurance requirement (see “the weeds” for deets). This funding is more focused on making sure folks with the least who are hit worst and first get a shot at some help, and that the counties who are most impacted by Ida benefit from buyouts. Blue Acres has $16 million in CDBG-DR funding. They also have $18 million of previously unused money that will go toward buying out houses that fall into this bucket.

Does Blue Acres pay the price of the house or just the mortgage amount still owed?

Again, it depends on where the money that is funding your buyout comes from. See above.

Do you have to accept a buyout if you apply?

Nope. Just because you submit an application does not mean you have to take a buyout. An application just means you are POSSIBLY interested in a buyout. Even if you don’t end up taking it, maybe it helps raise funds for another family who needs to move to be safe.

Do you have to raise your house to get a buyout?

No. You don’t have to do any repairs to your house if you want a buyout. Just let Blue Acres know you want one and, once you’re approved, they’ll take it from there.

Renter & Landlord Programs

Can a landlord apply on behalf of a tenant?

Landlords can NOT apply for TBRA on behalf of the tenant. If tenants need assistance with the application process, a housing counselor is available to apply on behalf of tenants.

My family is listed on the lease, but I am not. Can we apply?

Your family can apply *wink* *wink* *wink*

Other

Can I still qualify for these grants if I didn’t flood, but had storm damage to my home? Ex: My roof blew off

Yes. Eligible structures for HARP must meet the following criteria:

One of the units must have been the applicant’s primary residence at the time of the disaster.
The property owner must have occupied one of the units at the time of the disaster and own the property at the time of application.
Owner occupied home must have at least 1 foot of flooding or $8,000 in damages to the primary residence, as determined by FEMA.
Owner occupied home must be in HUD or State MIDs.

Are there still small interest loans available? Or other relief?

It’s complicated. Read on.

Case managers

First, make sure you get a case manager. These are folks who will help you navigate this crazy complicated disaster recovery system. This can be a full time job, so make sure you get the support you need.

United Methodists of Greater New Jersey (GNJUMC) is one of the organizations providing free disaster case management for Hurricane Ida survivors. They also provide construction with direct assistance. If you were impacted by Hurricane Ida, reach out to Andrea Wren-Hardin at 732-860-5086 or email [email protected] to get set up with a disaster case manager and/or resources to help you navigate the disaster recovery process.

SBA Loans

You can try to apply for SBA disaster loan assistance here. Note that the SBA Program closed last February, but we were able to get an exception for one of our members with special circumstances. So getting $ from SBA at this point will need a bigger push than just submitting an application – but if you’re willing to put in the work for it, let us know and we’ll figure out how we can help you do that.

FEMA

You can try to apply for FEMA by calling their hotline at 1-800-621-3362. Note that the FEMA help for Hurricane Ida closed March 5th, but again we are working with folks who have cases already open and are working with folks to get exceptions for our members with special circumstances. Again, getting $ from FEMA is going to be a harder push so reach out to us.

Insurance

One of our rockstar long-time NJOP members, Doug Quinn, is the founder of the American Policyholder Association (APA), which works to protect insurance policyholders from fraud.

The APA’s guide for how to self advocate in an insurance dispute. This super useful guide lays out specific steps you should take to fight for a fair claim–and specific pressure points you can lay on your insurance company. Even if you’re not currently having insurance issues, make sure you save this in case you end up needing it in the future.

The APA has more resources on their website, along with options for APA members to report insurance fraud and file a complaint against an engineer. (And BTW, it’s free to become a member as a policyholder!)

What is the chance of getting help before the next flood?

DCA anticipates to begin issuing awards in July. Construction progress and completion will be subject to individual circumstances.

Can I deduct child support from AGI?

Sadly, no. According to the IRS, child support payments are neither deductible by the person who pays or taxable to the recipient.

You can calculate your AGI here.

You can also find your AGI on last year’s tax return. Specifically, on your original tax return, not your amended tax return. If you’re looking at form 1040, your AGI is on line 37. If you’re looking at form 1040A, your AGI is on line 21. And, finally, if you’re looking at form 1040EZ, your AGI is on line 4.

Are there any programs that reimburse for work I already did?

You can join the fight to get more funding for Ida survivors RIGHT NOW. We talked a bit about the two bills we’re trying to pass to get MORE recovery money and support for storm survivors in New Jersey (click here to learn more about these). But to make this happen we need all of you to sign our petition to show our elected officials that there’s wide support for these bills. In order to have a chance at passing these bills, we need at least 1,000 signatures. So, sign and share the petition with anyone and everyone you know.

How can towns get help to change their water basins?

The Resilient Communities program will award competitive grants to impacted jurisdictions to complete eligible flood hazard risk reduction and resiliency measures. This program will support resilient infrastructure activities to fortify New Jersey communities against severe weather and flooding damage. Eligible activities can include the repair of the town\’s water basins to improve drainage and mitigate future flooding.

Can you get grant funding if you already got help from FEMA, but need more work done?

Yes! APPLY, APPLY, APPLY! The DCA will tell you if you’re not eligible, but don’t count yourself out.

What year’s income will these grants be using?

To certify income the programs will be using FY2022 Tax Returns in most instances.

What happens if I’m displaced from my normal living situation? Do I have to use the household income of the house I’m living in now or should I use my regular situation?

Income of all household members are evaluated when determining phasing and eligibility. Guests or others staying in the unit on a temporary basis are not counted as household members.

If you are in a temporary living situation, then income will be determined based on the household members that will be in the repaired home once it is habitable.

How do we know the status of our HMGP grant application?

Individual applicants can contact DCA directly to check status. DCA submitted the application to FEMA and will notify property owners included in the application as soon as FEMA completes their review.

I’m having trouble finding contractors? What should I do?

DCA is working to coordinate with entities such as the New Jersey Builders Association to curate a list of contractors the homeowner can select from. The State will actively assist homeowners with contract execution, payment terms, performance requirements, and managing construction through project completion and compliance with all state, local, and federal requirements.

Is there any funding available to help with lost cars?

The answer to your question is yes and no.

The DCA grants that are out right now won\’t cover you. But, there may be other resources that can help you recover.

First, the United Methodists are one of the organizations providing free disaster case management for Hurricane Ida survivors. They also provide construction with direct assistance. I recommend that you reach out to Andrea Wren-Hardin at 732-860-5086 or email [email protected] to get set up with a disaster case manager and/or resources to help you navigate the disaster recovery process.

Second, we\’re actually working on passing a Disaster Appropriations Bill that will get more flexible recovery money for Ida survivors. We\’re asking the state of NJ for $100 million. One of the things we want to do with this money is reimbursement folks for lost contents of both renters’ and homeowners’ houses. You can check out more details on the bill here.

Third, if you\’re a homeowner, we\’re also working on passing a mortgage forbearance bill. If your car was damaged in Ida, you are eligible for the mortgage forbearance. You can check out more details on the bill here, too.

But we can’t pass them without you. We expect these bills will be voted on this May, so we need to rally at least 1,000 signatures over the next month. Join us and stand together with storm survivors across the state: add your name and make your voice heard.

Will there really be reimbursement for lost content for renters?

If we make it happen!

How much money was NJ given for HMGP grants?

The State is dedicating $30 million of its available HMGP funds to elevate homes in areas impacted by Hurricane Ida. However, FEMA has yet to approve this application.

Are FEMA and these grants duplication of benefits?

Potentially. Applicants must report all assistance they have been awarded or is available to repair/reconstruct their homes from third-party sources such as flood and homeowner’s insurance, Increased Cost of Compliance (ICC), Federal Emergency Management (FEMA) assistance, loans from the Small Business Administration (SBA), and any assistance from other government or private non-profit sources.

Are there guidelines for homeowners who are qualified to do their own repairs?

Homeowners are not allowed to do their own repairs.

I own a duplex. I live on one side and I rent the other side. Can someone apply to both HARP and SRRP?

Since you live on one side of the property, apply for HARP. The funds from HARP can be used to fix both sides of the duplex.

How long do you have to sue for denied flood claims? How long does it take to successfully sue?

During Sandy, you had one year from when you were denied to sue. Keep in mind that it takes a loooong time to successfully sue your flood insurance company. This doesn’t mean you shouldn’t do it. We just want you to make an informed decision.

What if I received FEMA funds, but were underpaid? Can I still qualify for these programs?

Yes. We all know FEMA sucks and chronically underpays people. The DCA is flexible and willing to work with folks to help make sure they qualify. Reach out to them based on which program you’re trying to apply to:

HARP: call 609-292-3750 or email [email protected]
TBRA: call 609-913- 4252 or email [email protected]
Housing Counseling and Legal Services Program: call (609) 913-4463 or email [email protected]

Was there a program like this for Irene?

No.

I was 60 at the time of Ida, now I’m 62. Do I qualify as first in line for these programs?