Neighbor News
'Stop FEMA Now' holding RREM meeting today
Group cites ongoing problems 2 years after Sandy, invites Shore homeowners to information session
Citing ”countless complaints and horror stories,” a local organization formed after Superstorm Sandy will host a public information meeting Saturday about the state’s largest housing aid program.
Reconstruction, Rehabilitation, Elevation and Mitigation (RREM) grants will be the subject of the 12 noon meeting on Saturday (October 18, 2014) at the Silverton First Aid Squad, 86 Maine Street, off Hooper Avenue and Silver Bay Road. “Stop FEMA Now” invites homeowners from all Shore towns to attend.
Several residents who have gone through the rebuilding process will talk about their issues, and expert professionals will discuss how to navigate the problematic program. A question-and-answer session will follow.
Find out what's happening in Wallfor free with the latest updates from Patch.
Then the host organization will bring homeowners‘ concerns to the state Department of Community Affairs and the governor’s office for “definitive written answers.“
The $1.1 billion RREM program offers up to $150,000 grants to help repair and elevate damaged homes. Tens of thousands of New Jersey houses were flooded, but the state recently reported that only 3,830 homeowners have signed grant agreements worth $486 million. Just $199 million has been distributed.
Find out what's happening in Wallfor free with the latest updates from Patch.
“Too many people still need help two years after Sandy,” said George Kasimos, founder of Stop FEMA Now. “RREM has to be remedied!”
“There have been numerous applications and documents lost by the state, ridiculous requirements, long delays in processing, phone calls not returned for weeks and even months, misinformation, a lack of transparency, steering people into Pathway C which is being canceled, wrongful denials and even trying to recoup money after homeowners were approved and funded and after they moved out of their damaged homes and disconnected the utilities.”
“The Shore’s recovery has been bungled both by incompetent contractors hired and fired by the state, and by politicians and bureaucrats in the state government itself,” Kasimos pointed out. He said his citizens’ organization has posted “countless complaints and horror stories” from residents online at Facebook.com/groups/StopFemaNowNJ.
The local group has grown into a national force which spurred Congress to pass the Homeowners Flood Insurance Affordability Act last spring, to control annual premium increases.
