Print pageImage
Donna Blaze, CEO, Affordable Housing Alliance
Challenge: Hurricane Sandy caused massive destruction in New York and New Jersey in 2012, damaging businesses, homes and communities. The super storm was the second-costliest hurricane in U.S. history, behind only Hurricane Katrina in 2005. Many Hurricane Sandy victims had to move to rental units and faced significant financial hardships.
In 2012, Hurricane Sandy hit New York and New Jersey hard, causing mass destruction to businesses, homes and communities. According to FEMA, Hurricane Sandy was the second-costliest hurricane in U.S. history, behind only Hurricane Katrina in 2005. An estimated 2.7 million New Jersey residents were left without power, and over 37,000 primary residences were damaged or destroyed.
While homes were uninhabitable and repair funding was yet to be available, many homeowners had to resort to rental options until their primary residences were repaired or rebuilt. With rent in New Jersey averaging $1,344 a month for a one-bedroom apartment, financial difficulties began to overwhelm these dislocated families. They weren’t living in their damaged homes, but they still had to make their mortgage payments in addition to paying their rent.
While more than 35 disaster recovery centers opened to provide aid to the astounding number of Sandy victims, the Affordable Housing Alliance (AHA), located in Monmouth County, NJ, was also determined to address the extensive Hurricane Sandy-related needs of the community. In July 2014, AHA opened the Housing Recovery Resource Center (HRRC) in Atlantic Highlands, NJ, with the help of the Hurricane Sandy New Jersey Relief Fund. The resource center would provide HUD-certified housing counselors to help victims find viable, permanent housing solutions by repairing or rebuilding homes or relocating residents. Clients would also receive one-on-one counseling sessions to identify financial aid options including local, state and federal grants.
AHA went a step further in creating the Bayshore Bungalow Program. Under that project, victims can have a new modular home built with the assistance of program managers who handle the entire development process from submitting permits to the certificate of occupancy, all included in upfront consolidated pricing. This program is for New Jersey residents who were approved for the Rehabilitation, Reconstruction, Elevation and Mitigation (RREM) grant but continue to have difficulties getting back into their homes. The five model homes all meet or exceed the New Jersey RREM program guidelines and range from 700 to 1,600 square feet. The AHA’s 24 years of housing experience in Monmouth and Ocean counties contributed to the program’s success.
The intent of the program is to get families into a home while restoring their pre-storm equity. For many families, their home equity is the largest source of funds for retirement, college tuition or equity lost during the hurricane. The Bayshore Bungalow Program, which allows hurricane victims to avoid hiring expensive private contractors, constructs the model of their choice for a fraction of the cost. In turn, the equity in the home is restored, allowing families to get back on their feet and maintain stability within the community. Upon the completion of the Bayshore Bungalow models, these hardworking homeowners can return to the lives they knew before the storm.
Severe flooding created by the lake just a few yards from Joyce Uglow’s home made it uninhabitable and she was forced to rent a mobile home. Uglow felt as many hurricane victims did – that there would be no return from such a horrific disaster. However, in spite of her fear, doubt, anger and insecurity, Uglow refused to give up. Her determination and perseverance led her to a successful recovery during which she used the resources around her, eventually leading Catholic Charities to refer her to AHA’s resource center and Bayshore Bungalow Program.
“Working with the Housing Recovery Resource Center was the best experience for me. The HRRC was able to help guide me in moving forward during this process,” Uglow said.
AHA learned that expanding our assistance through partnerships with modular homebuilders and construction managers and taking advantage of the financial benefits of consolidated pricing enables us to help courageous individuals like Uglow. We look forward to serving more members of the community through our Bayshore Bungalow Program.
Challenge: Hurricane Sandy caused massive destruction in New York and New Jersey in 2012, damaging businesses, homes and communities. The super storm was the second-costliest hurricane in U.S. history, behind only Hurricane Katrina in 2005. Many Hurricane Sandy victims had to move to rental units and faced significant financial hardships.
In 2012, Hurricane Sandy hit New York and New Jersey hard, causing mass destruction to businesses, homes and communities. According to FEMA, Hurricane Sandy was the second-costliest hurricane in U.S. history, behind only Hurricane Katrina in 2005. An estimated 2.7 million New Jersey residents were left without power, and over 37,000 primary residences were damaged or destroyed.
While homes were uninhabitable and repair funding was yet to be available, many homeowners had to resort to rental options until their primary residences were repaired or rebuilt. With rent in New Jersey averaging $1,344 a month for a one-bedroom apartment, financial difficulties began to overwhelm these dislocated families. They weren’t living in their damaged homes, but they still had to make their mortgage payments in addition to paying their rent.
While more than 35 disaster recovery centers opened to provide aid to the astounding number of Sandy victims, the Affordable Housing Alliance (AHA), located in Monmouth County, NJ, was also determined to address the extensive Hurricane Sandy-related needs of the community. In July 2014, AHA opened the Housing Recovery Resource Center (HRRC) in Atlantic Highlands, NJ, with the help of the Hurricane Sandy New Jersey Relief Fund. The resource center would provide HUD-certified housing counselors to help victims find viable, permanent housing solutions by repairing or rebuilding homes or relocating residents. Clients would also receive one-on-one counseling sessions to identify financial aid options including local, state and federal grants.
AHA went a step further in creating the Bayshore Bungalow Program. Under that project, victims can have a new modular home built with the assistance of program managers who handle the entire development process from submitting permits to the certificate of occupancy, all included in upfront consolidated pricing. This program is for New Jersey residents who were approved for the Rehabilitation, Reconstruction, Elevation and Mitigation (RREM) grant but continue to have difficulties getting back into their homes. The five model homes all meet or exceed the New Jersey RREM program guidelines and range from 700 to 1,600 square feet. The AHA’s 24 years of housing experience in Monmouth and Ocean counties contributed to the program’s success.The intent of the program is to get families into a home while restoring their pre-storm equity. For many families, their home equity is the largest source of funds for retirement, college tuition or equity lost during the hurricane. The Bayshore Bungalow Program, which allows hurricane victims to avoid hiring expensive private contractors, constructs the model of their choice for a fraction of the cost. In turn, the equity in the home is restored, allowing families to get back on their feet and maintain stability within the community. Upon the completion of the Bayshore Bungalow models, these hardworking homeowners can return to the lives they knew before the storm.
Severe flooding created by the lake just a few yards from Joyce Uglow’s home made it uninhabitable and she was forced to rent a mobile home. Uglow felt as many hurricane victims did – that there would be no return from such a horrific disaster. However, in spite of her fear, doubt, anger and insecurity, Uglow refused to give up. Her determination and perseverance led her to a successful recovery during which she used the resources around her, eventually leading Catholic Charities to refer her to AHA’s resource center and Bayshore Bungalow Program.
“Working with the Housing Recovery Resource Center was the best experience for me. The HRRC was able to help guide me in moving forward during this process,” Uglow said.
AHA learned that expanding our assistance through partnerships with modular homebuilders and construction managers and taking advantage of the financial benefits of consolidated pricing enables us to help courageous individuals like Uglow. We look forward to serving more members of the community through our Bayshore Bungalow Program.
