Ida Victims Begging for Mortgage Relief Stuck Waiting Again After Murphy Vetoes Plan

Ida Victims Begging for Mortgage Relief Stuck Waiting Again After Murphy Vetoes Plan / TAPInto / September 13, 2024

By TAPinto Phillipsburg Staff

WARREN COUNTY, NJ – Three years after Hurricane Ida devastated New Jersey, a bill designed to provide mortgage relief to struggling homeowners has hit another roadblock. On Thursday, Sept. 12, opens in a new windowGovernor Phil Murphy issued a conditional veto on legislation that would have given victims a one-year break from mortgage payments and delayed foreclosure proceedings for those unable to keep up with their payments.

Warren County and other municipalities across New Jersey are still grappling with the aftermath of Ida, which caused unprecedented flooding and severe damage to homes and infrastructure. Many residents have been left in financial limbo, waiting for meaningful assistance as they try to rebuild their lives.

The bill, Assembly Bill No. 2294, sought to offer immediate relief to affected homeowners by suspending mortgage obligations for a year. In his veto, Governor Murphy recommended changes that align the proposed aid with programs enacted following Superstorm Sandy in 2017.

“I am recommending amendments… that more closely align the mortgage and foreclosure relief program established in the bill to the mortgage and foreclosure relief program established through legislation enacted in response to Superstorm Sandy,” Murphy stated, referencing efforts such as the Homeowner Assistance and Recovery Program and the Mitigation Assistance Program. These programs aim to address ongoing needs for repairs and reconstruction in homes damaged by Ida.

The governor’s conditional veto, however, was met with sharp criticism from Senator Doug Steinhardt (R-23), who expressed frustration over the delay. “This bill would not be necessary if the Governor’s office didn’t change the rules mid-recovery and deprive homeowners of the ability to raise and repair their homes, forcing them instead to sell into programs like Blue Acres. That’s not assistance, that’s abandonment,” Steinhardt said in a statement. “As written, the bill would have given instant relief to those who have been ignored, overlooked, and unassisted for three long years since Hurricane Ida, without all the bureaucratic red tape that the Governor’s recommendations would require. I urge the Legislature to return to Trenton as soon as possible to get these residents the help that they so desperately need.”

The conditional veto marks yet another setback for New Jersey homeowners still waiting for relief. Many residents in towns like Manville, severely impacted by both Ida and Sandy, have voiced frustrations over the state’s response. Homeowners in these areas often face exorbitant repair costs, only to be told later that the state would seize their homes under buyout programs, leading to additional expenses for both the state and residents.

As the state government navigates the complexities of disaster recovery, advocates and local leaders continue to push for quicker, less bureaucratic solutions to aid those still suffering in the wake of Hurricane Ida.