News Flash

ARE YOU CONFUSED ABOUT FEMA? ABOUT SBA?   MEETING TUESDAY AT 4:30 pm 

Have you reached out to FEMA, SBA or your insurance company and been disappointed? Or, are you having good experiences, getting the financial help you need?

FEMA will also take applications at the Greenburgh Library Sunday 9 AM to 5 PM…Monday and Tuesday October 4 and 5  10 am to 6 pm

This Tuesday, at 4:30 PM a representative from the government affairs office of FEMA and SBA will attend a Town Board work session at Town Hall (177 Hillside Ave, White Plains). If you have any questions about the financial assistance programs they offer or concerns please e mail me at pfeiner@greenburghny.com. We will ask the questions. You can also attend the meeting. Questions, problems people are having will be highlighted. Many residents have lost cars, suffered tens of thousands of dollars in property losses and our now struggling through government red tape. Some residents are staying in hotels and they still haven’t received any financial help or inadequate support.

If you need extra help we have a storm reliefs angel volunteer program and have been matching volunteers with residents. We hope to also give direct feedback as to what is working and not working with our congressional and state legislative delegation.

PAUL FEINER
 Greenburgh Town Supervisor

I am sending you the answers to the questions you sent me, and I am VERY GLAD I double checked, since I had given you the maximum amount as $36,500 and it is $36,000. I stand corrected.

Received this from the government liaison from FEMA 

1. If someone’s boiler is out and they lost furniture, heating systems, parts of their basement – what grants are available? 
   1. Individuals and Households Program (IHP) assistance provides financial assistance and direct services to eligible individuals and households who have uninsured or underinsured necessary expenses and serious needs. IHP assistance is not a substitute for insurance and cannot compensate for all losses caused by a disaster; it is intended to meet basic needs and supplement disaster recovery efforts.

                                                    i.     There are two categories of IHP assistance: Housing Assistance and Other Needs Assistance (ONA).

1. FEMA may provide financial assistance to repair an owner-occupied primary residence, utilities, and residential infrastructure, including private access routes damaged as a result of a Presidentially-declared disaster up to the financial Housing Assistance maximum award.
2. Home Repair Assistance is intended to make the damaged home safe, sanitary, or functional. It is not intended to return the home to its pre[1]disaster condition.
3. FEMA may provide financial assistance for the repair of real property components, including, but not limited to: structural components of a home (e.g., foundation, exterior walls, roof), windows, doors, floors, walls, ceilings, and cabinetry, heating, ventilation, and air conditioning system. (HVAC).
4. For wells, furnaces, and septic systems, FEMA may provide assistance or reimbursement for the cost of a licensed technician’s professional assessment associated with the repair or replacement of those components. Additionally, when verifiable receipts or estimates are submitted on appeal, FEMA may pay up to the actual cost of the receipt or estimate for wells, furnaces, and septic systems.
5. The Individual Assistance Program home repair assistance for flood-damaged real property in basements is limited to damaged items that results in living conditions affecting the safety, sanitation, and functionality of the home.  
6. Disaster-caused damage in a basement affecting the safety, sanitation, and functionality of the home may include: 

                                                    i.      Damage to the structural components (e.g., foundation) of the home of Damage to critical utilities that support the overall function of the home (e.g., furnace, water heater) 

                                                   ii.     Damage to the structure’s interior (e.g., doors, floor covering); limited to rooms required for the occupancy of the dwelling (e.g., occupied bedrooms, a bathroom required for the occupied bedroom, a sole kitchen or living room); and no other room in another part of the dwelling meets that need 

                                                  iii.      Damage presenting a hazard (e.g., wet or moldy drywall, carpet, or cabinets) in non-essential living areas (for removal only)

1. Maximum amount people can receive from FEMA (grants) 
   1. The amount of financial assistance an individual or household may receive under IHP is limited. Financial Housing Assistance and Other Needs Assistance (ONA) have independent and equal financial maximums. 
   2. FEMA adjusts these maximum awards each fiscal year based on the Department of Labor Consumer Price Index. 
   3. For DR-4615-NY the financial maximum for Housing Assistance is $36,000 and for Other Needs Assistance (ONA) is $36, 000.
   4. Temporary Housing Assistance, including Lodging Expense Reimbursement, Rental Assistance, and Continued Temporary Housing Assistance are not counted toward the financial Housing Assistance maximum award. 
   5. Disaster-caused losses to accessibility-related real and personal property for qualified applicants with a disability or other access and functional need are not subject to a financial assistance maximum.
   6. Eligible individuals or households receiving IHP assistance may not necessarily be awarded the maximum amount of financial assistance for their disaster-caused losses.
   7. We encourage individuals and households affected by the Remnants of Hurricane Ida to apply. 
2. Are there income limits –is this offered to people who are only poor or anyone? 
   1. Sections 308 and 309 of the Stafford Act, and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 197331 have nondiscrimination provisions applicable to FEMA programs and prohibit discrimination on the grounds of race, color, religion, [national origin], sex, age, disability, English proficiency, or economic status.
3. Will FEMA help people whose cars were destroyed? 
   1. The ONA provision of the IHP, provides financial assistance for disaster-related necessary expenses and serious needs that are not covered by insurance or provided by any other source. 
   2. FEMA, in coordination with the STT government pre-determines ONA-eligible items and amounts to be awarded.
   3. FEMA collaborates with the SBA in determining applicant eligibility for some types of ONA. The Small Business Act authorizes the SBA to provide low-interest disaster loans to applicants who have sustained damage in a disaster. 
   4. FEMA refers the applicant’s information to SBA if the applicant’s income meets SBA minimum guidelines. 
   5. Transportation Assistance is an SBA Dependent category of assistance. 
   6. Specific conditions of eligibly must be met by the survivor prior to being considered for assistance. The survivor must first contact their insurance company and also apply to the SBA for a loan. SBA may refer the survivor back to FEMA for further consideration.  

MARIA FIGUEROA, FEMA

Good morning Mr. Paul Feiner,

We received an email from FEMA related to possible questions regarding SBA disaster assistance loans that should be answered before the scheduled Town Board meeting on October 5.  

As stated in our meeting, SBA disaster loans are individually evaluated, and we always ask the Applicants to verify with any agencies or organizations administering any grant or other assistance program under this declaration to determine how an approval of SBA disaster loan might affect their eligibility.  

The money for the disaster loans is disbursed in phases and only after certain criteria are met in receiving other funds.   SBA is trying to not duplicate assistance from elsewhere.  

We will try to answer all the questions that you might have, however we ask you to understand that each loan scenario is different and therefore the answerers should be asked at the time of applying for the disaster assistance loan and addressed to the loan officer assigned to the case.  

First, please let me clarify that an SBA’s Disaster Loans cannot be forgiven.  It would take an Act of Congress to change the law regarding this.  Under the CARES ACT certain COVID-19 loans are forgiven, however that feature was written into law only for the PPP (offered through a bank) and several other types of loans due to the unique situation caused by the Coronavirus.  The forgiveness does not include the Economic Injury Disaster Loans made by the Office of Disaster Assistance.

As for the case scenario presented in the question posted for SBA, we have a few questions to ask that possibly might clarify the issue, as follow:

1)Did the applicant submit a plan for elevation and get their loan increased, or is this issue premature?

2) Although receiving FEMA funds are considered a duplication of benefits, it is only true if FEMA’s funds are for the same purposes of our loan.  I realize that FEMA is now awarding mitigation grants, but we can reduce the loan for any benefits received that are determined to be a duplication of benefits during the disbursement process.  Have they been told FEMA is awarding money for this purpose?

3) We usually require what is called an “Assignment of Insurance Proceeds” when the loan is approved ahead of receiving an insurance payout.  This is a loan closing document that is filed by the applicant with the insurance company that essentially says to add SBA as a loss payee to the claim so that the money paid out will eventually come to us and pay the loan down.

However, for case-by-case assistance or inquiry, we need a Privacy Release Form signed by constituent with loan number and more information regarding the Applicant. Please send us the information and we will try to reach out to the Processing and Disbursement Center.

Hope that we were able to clarify your questions.   

Respectfully, 

US Small Business Administration (SBA) - Office of Disaster Assistance (ODA) - Field Operations Center East (FOCE)   

Liliana Tschanett

Public Affairs Specialist

Serving the Presidential Disaster NY17147 

Office of Disaster Assistance - FOCE

U.S. Small Business Administration