FOR BREAKING NEWS VISIT www.queenscourier.com OCTOBER 3, 2013 • THE QUEENS COURIER 11 BUILD IT BACK PROGRAM EXTENDED BY MAGGIE HAYES [email protected] The deadline for the city’s Build it Back program has been extended to October 31. Build it Back, a federally-funded program to assist those whose homes, offi ces and other properties were damaged by Sandy, was originally set to be capped off on September 30. The extension came after a great infl ux of new customers over the last two weeks and as recently as last weekend, according to the Mayor’s Offi ce of Housing Recovery Operations (HRO). During this time, the program received more than 3,600 new registrants. As of Tuesday, October 1, Queens homeowners and renters signed up for Build it Back totaled close to 10,000, the most in all fi ve boroughs, said Peter Spencer of the HRO. “With the thousands of individual complications people fi nd themselves facing, we need a variety of resources,” said Councilmember Donovan Richards. “There is no one fi x for every situation. People are still realizing the extent of the damage that Sandy has done.” To sign up for Build it Back, visit nyc.gov/recovery or call 3-1-1 and ask for NYC Build it Back. SANDY FAMILIES MAY BE FORCED INTO SHELTERS BY MAGGIE HAYES [email protected] “NOW IS NOT THE TIME Displaced families whose homes were destroyed by Sandy may fi nd themselves homeless once again. TO FURTHER DISRUPT THE On Friday, October 4, the city’s Department of Homeless Services (DHS) Hotel Program, which provided evacuees with housing in the interim of LIVES OF NEW YORKERS receiving federal recovery funds, may come to an end, said a city offi cial. WHO HAVE SUFFERED To date, 1,313 households participated in the Hotel Program, costing over $70.5 million, according to court documents. MORE THAN ENOUGH.” The program’s funding was provided by FEMA because the city “does not have a budget to support COUNCILMEMBER DONOVAN RICHARDS the Hotel Program,” said the papers. Originally, the program was set to stop by May 31. The decision was taken to court, and the initiative effort and resources to more than 3,000 was extended to Monday, September 30, the date individuals displaced by Sandy. As the court has that FEMA funding ended. Program participants recognized, the city cannot afford to single-handedly should be out that following Friday. continue this program in the absence of FEMA funding,” Local leaders are fi ghting the new end date and “urge said Michael Cardozo of the NYC Corporation FEMA to continue funding,” said Councilmember Counsel. “All participating households without an Donovan Richards. exit plan may access a DHS shelter, where social “Now is not the time to further disrupt the lives of services staff will continue to work closely with the New Yorkers who have suffered more than enough,” remaining households to identify suitable housing he said. options.” As of mid-September, 179 households remain in Richards countered this and said “permanent housing, the program. Seventy-six of those are linked to a not the shelter system, can and must be the end permanent housing program, fi ve are waiting for goal for all.” repairs on their own homes, 94 are working with the Court documents stated continuing the Hotel Temporary Disaster Assistance Program (TDAP) and Program would transfer the “fi nancial burden” onto four no longer receive DHS payments. the city, which “does not have a budgeted source of “For over 10 months, the city has dedicated tremendous funds to operate” the initiative. Is your bank closing your business account? Recently, a bank announced that they’re shutting their doors to their small and mid-sized business customers. At Flushing Bank, we focus on creating long-lasting relationships with the businesses in the neighborhoods and local communities we serve. We are a local community bank that provides businesses with the expertise, products and business banking solutions they need and deserve, and we‘re ready to provide them to you today. As a Flushing Bank business customer, you will quickly learn that we’re small enough to know you, yet large enough to help you. For more information, visit your local Flushing Bank branch, call 800.581.2889 or go to www.FlushingBank.com. Don’t forget to ask about our Free Business Checking Nexus7 32GB tablet offer. From Forbes.com March 18, 2013. © 2013 Forbes.com LLC. All rights reserved. Used by permission and protected by the Copyright Laws of the United States. The printing, copying, redistribution, or retransmission of this Content without express written permission is prohibited. Flushing Bank is a registered trademark
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