Eight Weeks Remain to Register for WTC Federal Disaster Assistance
Those Seeking Aid Should Call Toll-Free to Register 1-800-462-9029 by Jan. 31, 2003
Release Date: December 4, 2002
Release Number: 1391-180
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New York, NY -- Individuals, families and small businesses affected by the Sept. 11, 2001, attack on the World Trade Center still have nearly two months to apply for federal mortgage and rental assistance grants and low-interest loans.
January 31, 2003, is the last day applications will be accepted for the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Mortgage and Rental Assistance (MRA) program. That date is also the deadline for submitting loan applications to the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) for disaster-related physical or economic injury losses.
Recovery officials also announced the Christmas and New Years holiday schedule, affecting registration hours at FEMA disaster call centers and at the FEMA / SBA Applicant Assistance Center in lower Manhattan.
"FEMA is still here, with our MRA program ready to assist those who may be in danger of losing their home through foreclosure or eviction as a result of financial hardship caused by the World Trade Center attack," said Federal Recovery Officer Brad Gair. He noted, however, that the registration period for the Individual and Family Grant (IFG) program, which reimbursed New Yorkers for air purifiers, HEPA vacuums and other air quality equipment, concluded last Saturday, Nov. 30, with no new applications being accepted for the IFG assistance program.
Federal and New York state disaster recovery officials urge those who have not done so to apply as soon as possible by calling the toll-free registration line at 1-800-462-9029 between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. Interpreter services are available to accommodate the diverse needs of all language groups in the New York metropolitan area. Hearing or speech-impaired individuals may call the TTY registration number at 1-800-462-7585.
Holiday Schedule Affects Registration Hours
The FEMA Teleregistration Call Center will be open regular hours on Dec. 24 and Jan. 31, Christmas Eve and New Years Eve, respectively, as well the Thursdays and Fridays following these holidays. Teleregistration lines will be closed Dec. 25 and Jan. 1 in observance of the Christmas and New Years holidays respectively.
The FEMA / SBA Applicant Assistance Center in lower Manhattan will be closed on Dec. 25 and Jan. 1 in observance of the Christmas and New Years holidays, respectively. Located at 141 Worth St. (formerly the DMV Building), the Applicant Assistance Center will resume operations on Thursday, Dec. 26 and Thursday, Jan. 2, respectively. Regular hours for the facility are Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
FEMA and the SBA provide a range of assistance including grants for temporary housing or emergency repair; mortgage and rental assistance; crisis counseling; and low-interest disaster assistance loans for homeowners and businesses of all sizes and non-profit organizations. New Yorkers can continue to access crisis counseling services beyond the Jan. 31 application deadline for MRA grants and SBA loans. For crisis counseling services, call Project Liberty (New York State Office of Mental Health) at 1-800-LIFENET (543-3638 or visit the website at www.projectliberty.state.ny.us.
Last Modified: Wednesday, 28-May-2003 16:31:56