One-Stop Shops for Storm Relief

By AVRIL REGIS

Mayor Bloomberg on Tuesday announced the opening of seven centers in neighborhoods ravaged by hurricane Sandy where all the services needed to help storm victims – ranging from hiring contractors to financial aid – would be located under one roof.

“These restoration centers will make it simpler and more convenient for New Yorkers affected by the storm to get the help they need and to find out about resources they may not have been aware of,” said the mayor at a press conference in the Rockaways where Sandy dealt one of her hardest blows.

The centers also opened in Coney Island, Staten Island, and Gravesend while the remaining three in Red Hook, Breezy Point, and Throggs Neck-Pelham Bay will open later in the week.

The centers serving as a one-stop-shops for those still trying to get back on their feet will stay open seven days a week from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m, the mayor added.

Each location would offer assistance with financial, health, environmental, nutritional and residential services. Also present at each site will be Federal Emergency Management Administration (FEMA)  staff to handle benefit applications and give homeowners updates on their FEMA cases.

Local agencies would also be on hand to help residents get information about Medicaid, nike cortez femmes Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, and temporary cash assistance from the city’s Human Resource Administration, and other services.

“As power returns, residents are coming home to put their lives back together again,”said Deputy Mayor Linda Gibbs.“These will be trying times for them and the restoration centers bring social and emotional support services to care for their needs, with public agencies and community based non-profits side by side to address the long term effects of the storm.”

The Department of Small Business Services would also staff the centers to help small businesses navigate the bureaucracy of applying for loans and other services.

A major focus of the centers is a program dubbed NYC Restore designed to put homeowners in contact with licenced contractors vetted by the city who would estimate damages and submit repair “reasonably priced”repair bids. Homeowners could also pick contractors of their own choosing for the work, some of which would be subsidized by FEMA.