A home in Rahway in the aftermath of Superstorm Sandy. Union County residents 60-years-old or older, or persons with disabilities, may be eligible for existing grant funds available for those whose primary residences were damaged by the Superstorm Sandy.
UNION COUNTY — The Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders reminds home owners who are seniors age sixty and older, or persons with disabilities, that they may qualify for a federal grant of up to $5,000 under the new Home Repair and Advocacy program. The funds are intended to repair damage to homes from Superstorm Sandy. The home must be the owner’s primary residence.
The grant applications for Union County home owners will be processed by Development Directions LLC of Rahway.
“Development Directions has a solid track record of administering grants and making sure that community assistance funds go where they’re needed, in a timely manner,” said Freeholder Chairman Christopher Hudak.
A wide variety of storm-related repairs may be covered under this program, including damage to furnaces, hot water heaters, and other major appliances as well as electrical systems, roof and window repairs, and tree removal. Other repairs may include water damage and mold remediation.
The source of the funding is an $8.2 million federal Social Services Block Grant awarded to the New Jersey Department of Human Services.
From that state agency, the funds are distributed in blocks to county-based offices, including the Union County Division on Aging. The Division on Aging selected Development Directions through a public bidding process to administer Union County’s share of the funds. This “block grant” process is a long-established strategy for ensuring that federal funds are channeled to the appropriate recipients by reliable, local community development professionals.
To obtain a grant application or to get more information, contact Development Directions by calling 732-382-8100, emailing [email protected], or writing to Development Directions, 2 City Hall Plaza, 2nd Floor, Rahway NJ, 07065. Proof of home ownership must be provided.
For information call 888-280-8226 or visit online at ucnj.org.