Governor Hochul Announces Deadline Extension to Provide Hurricane Ida Relief to Excluded New Yorkers

Governor Kathy Hochul today announced the deadline for applications for the Ida Relief Fund will be extended until January 4th to provide relief to excluded survivors of the storms and flooding caused by the remnants of Hurricane Ida. New Yorkers who are not eligible to receive storm recovery assistance through the FEMA Individual Assistance Program or other means can apply for funding that is being distributed through an established network of community organizations.

"In the aftermath of Hurricane Ida, we have been fully committed to helping all New Yorkers recover from this devastating storm," Governor Hochul said. "With this extension to apply for resources, excluded New Yorkers who are ineligible for FEMA relief and community organizations on the ground can now gather all the necessary information to apply to get the funding they need to rebuild."

The extension bolsters the State commitment to support these not-for-profit organizations in a joint effort to distribute assistance and offer more time to gather information and documents to those who need to apply for this assistance. As of November 30th, more than 1,800 people reached out about this program, and of these initial contacts, 403 households have submitted applications and 507 households qualified for FEMA funds and have since been referred there. To date, 54 households have received approximately $228,376. An additional 31 households have approved applications and are pending payment. Orange County has been included in the Disaster Declaration and impacted residents of this county should contact the ONA Hotline.

The following organizations are providing assistance:

Bronx - Catholic Charities Community Services, 402 East 152nd Street, Bronx, NY 10455

Brooklyn - Chinese American Planning Council, 4101 8th Ave, 4th Floor, Brooklyn, NY 11232

Queens - MinKwon, 133-29 41st Avenue, Suite 202, Flushing, NY 11355

Queens - Make the Road, 92-10 Roosevelt Ave, Jackson Heights, NY 11372

Staten Island - Make the Road, 161 Port Richmond Ave, Staten Island, NY 10302

Nassau - Economic Opportunity Commission of Nassau County, 134 Jackson Street, Hempstead, NY 11550

Suffolk - Make the Road, 1090 Suffolk Ave, Brentwood, NY 11717

Westchester & Rockland - NeighborsLink, 27 Columbus Ave, Mount Kisco, NY 10549

Acting Secretary of State Brendan C Hughes said, "The remnants of Hurricane Ida destroyed the homes and livelihoods of so many in its wake and months later in the aftermath of emergencies and disasters, impacted people are still trying to manage basic information to get the necessary support they need to rebuild. Thanks to Governor Hochul's leadership, the Office for New Americans will continue to offer the necessary support to help the most vulnerable communities in need of the Ida Relief Fund to restore their lives."

Assemblywoman Catalina Cruz said, "Governor Hochul took a huge step in supporting our neighbors through the allocation of the Ida relief fund. Hundreds of excluded families have already come forward to apply. But given the nature of this disaster, many others likely need more time. I thank Governor Hochul for this much needed extension and I look forward to continuing to work through this together."

Catholic Charities of New York Executive Director Monsignor Kevin Sullivan said, "Catholic Charities knows all too well that often, years after a disaster, there are, tragically, still families and individuals dealing with the consequences of such events. We are grateful that Governor Hochul has extended the Hurricane Ida Relief Fund, enabling us to continue to serve those in need."

Neighbors Link Executive Director Carola Otero Bracco said, "The extension of the Ida Relief Fund is a necessary step to ensure that people in storm-impacted areas get the assistance they need regardless of immigration status, housing situation or ability to pay for insurance. Many excluded residents have served as essential workers and play a critical role in our economy, but have often been excluded from most forms of government relief and may need additional time and assistance to apply for this aid. Neighbors Link is grateful to Governor Hochul for extending the program to ensure residents have the time and resources needed to apply."

Make the Road Co-Executive Director Theo Oshiro said, "The Ida Relief Fund is a crucial resource for excluded New Yorkers who experienced the worst from Hurricane Ida. This extension is very good news for our communities, as it provides more time to ensure that as many of our neighbors as possible receive the help they need."

Economic Opportunity Commission of Nassau County Acting Executive Director Eric Poulson said, "EOC of Nassau County, Inc., is delighted to hear that the Hurricane Ida Relief Fund has been extended to January 4th. This will allow the EOC of Nassau County, Inc., to continue to assist those who have been affected/impacted by Hurricane Ida. The individuals and families that we've assisted are extremely grateful because they had no other alternatives. This was a lifeline for them in terms of providing temporary housing and meeting their critical needs. We look forward to continuing our mission to assist as many individuals and families as possible."

MinKwon Center for Community Action Executive Director John Park said, "The MinKwon Center for Community Action applauds the extension of the critical Ida Storm Relief lifeline to many or our most vulnerable immigrant New Yorkers. Early on during the pandemic, excluded restaurant, delivery, and frontline healthcare workers stepped up to take care of us and our neighbors. It doesn't matter who you are or what your immigration status is, New Yorkers take care of each other. This is an incredible resource that is transformative to those who have been impacted, and one of the few that is eligible to excluded New Yorkers. The MinKwon Center supports this critical resource and encourages eligible applicants to apply."

Chinese-American Planning Council, Inc. President and CEO Wayne Ho said, "CPC is pleased that the State's Office for New Americans and the Mayor's Office has extended the deadline for the Hurricane Ida Relief Fund for excluded community members. Our immigrant neighbors were disproportionately affected by the hurricane, including Asian Americans who make up the vast majority of basement fatalities as a result of the hurricane. We encourage New Yorkers of all backgrounds to contact CPC for assistance."

The not-for-profit partner organizations have been providing assistance and accepting applications since September 27, 2021. In order to qualify for this program, the applicants must a) themselves not be eligible for FEMA assistance and b) not have an individual in their household who is eligible for assistance.

To get connected with assistance, impacted residents should call the ONA Hotline at 1-800-566-7636 9:00am to 8:00pm, Monday through Friday or visit the partner not-for-profits organizations. Hotline assistance is available in over 200 languages.

Governor Hochul previously announced the launch of the new online resource hub for impacted New Yorkers, available here. The hub provides information on available assistance programs and where to find services such as shelter and access to food. Information on the site will be updated as more resources for New Yorkers become available.

The New York State Office for New Americans, founded in 2012, is the nation's first statutorily created immigrant services office. ONA assists all new Americans with accessing and navigating a variety of free services and support through its statewide network of community-based providers.

For any immigrant in need of assistance, or to connect with ONA's programs, call the New Americans Hotline at 1-800-566-7636 from 9:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m., Monday through Friday. All calls are confidential. Assistance is available in over 200 languages. More information is available here. Follow ONA on Twitter at @NYSNewAmericans or Facebook.