For Information Contact:

Brian Adey
 798-5800

Oneida County Executive Joseph A. Griffo today announced that the application period for town and village residents impacted by flooding in the storms that hit Oneida County in June will begin on Monday, November 20th.

“This June’s storms were very destructive and forced many families from their homes,” Griffo said. “The funding we are able to distribute is designed to help our suburban and rural families that were forced to flee recover the costs of the temporary shelter they needed to find. The financial support is part of our ongoing commitment to help families recover from the storm’s damages.”

Oneida County has received an award of $250,000 from the New York State Governor’s Office for Small Cities for the 2006 State Disaster Relief, Temporary Housing Assistance Grant Program. With this funding, Oneida County has established a Disaster Relief Program to be administered with assistance from the UNHS NeighborWorks HomeOwnership Center to households affected by the devastating flooding that occurred in Oneida County in June 2006. Due to a state requirement that Small Cities funding cannot be used in entitlement communities, the funding for this program will be for residents and communities outside of the Cities of Utica and Rome.

Griffo said that the Disaster Relief Program funds will reimburse permanent residents for immediate housing needs directly associated with displacement as a result of the June 2006 floods. Griffo said the regulations for the aid define a “displaced person” as “a person whose residence (dwelling) was extensively damaged or destroyed due to the June 2006 flooding disaster resulting in the permanent or temporary relocation of residence.”

Eligible expenditures are:

Rental assistance (can include hotel stays) for a maximum of 3 months.

Food

Basic Furniture (limited to beds, couches, chairs, and dining sets) for the temporary residence

Utility payments for the temporary residence for a maximum of 3 months.

Preference will be given to low-to-moderate income households whose annual gross income is at or below 80 (eighty) percent of HUD median income. Those applicants whose annual gross income exceeds 80 (eighty) percent of HUD median income will be placed on a waiting list once low-to-moderate income households are assisted.

Applications are also available on the Oneida County website www.ocgov.net or through The HomeOwnership Center. Documentation is required. Homeowners with questions should call The HomeOwnership Center at (315) 724-4197. Applications will only be considered eligible once all applicable documents accompany the application.