Jersey Shore Magazine

J e r s e y s h o r e • s p r i n g 2 0 1 4 18 BEACHCOMBER continued from page 17 SANDY UPDATE AMERICAN RED CROSS 1-888-Red-Cross www.redcross.org Total Raised: $308,000,000. Total Distributed (as of September 30, 2013): $280,000,000. Beneficiaries: Residents of the Transitional Shelter Assistance (TSA) Program. Immediately after the storm, the Red Cross provided temporary shel- ter and relief supplies to affected neighborhoods. The organization then partnered with FEMA to help those living in TSA housing. These displaced people were issued a Red Cross caseworker that helped them in a variety of ways, from mental health support to rental assistance. The Red Cross also offers the Move-In Assistance Program. It pro- vides up to $10,000. per household to those who have lost their primary home due to Sandy, as well as one of the following: • The person lived in a FEMA TSA hotel or transitional housing unit after December 17, 2012, or • The person received a FEMA maximum grant ($31,900.) and has additional needs, or • The person is ineligible to apply for federal assistance. According to the Red Cross Housing Assistance website, the Red Cross is accepting additional help requests as "individual cases may vary." To inquire about aid, home- owners are encouraged to call 1-888- Red-Cross. If ineligible, a Red Cross caseworker will direct the caller to appropriate disaster relief agencies in their area. ROBIN HOOD RELIEF FUND (212) 227-6601 www.robinhood.org Total Raised: $73,000,000. Majority raised during the 12.12.12 Concert for Sandy Relief ($51,000,000.). Total Distributed: $73,000,000. Beneficiaries: Other organizations that assist low-income residents. Robin Hood, headquartered in New York City, does not distribute money directly to storm victims. After Sandy, they partnered with analysts to deter- mine the lowest income towns that were hit hardest by Sandy. They then allocated money to local nonprofits that help the poor in these areas. Some local groups and towns who have received funding from Robin Hood include the Affordable Housing Alliance ($1,250,000.), the Township of Brick ($500,000.), and the Borough of Seaside Heights ($400,000.). For a full listing of recipients, visit www.robinhood.org/ sandygrants. HURRICANE SANDY NEW JERSEY RELIEF FUND (973) 521-5820 www.sandynjrelieffund.org Total Raised: $38,000,000. Total Distributed (as of October 29, 2013): $25,000,000. Beneficiaries: Other organizations that help mostly low-income residents. The Hurricane Sandy New Jersey Relief Fund (HSNJRF) is the most star-studded of the Sandy relief organizations. It is chaired by the First Lady of New Jersey, Mary Pat Christie, and has Bruce Springsteen and Jon Bon Jovi as honorary advi- sory board members. Like the Robin Hood Relief Fund, HSNJRF does not distribute funds directly to those affected by the storm. Instead, it provides grants to area nonprofit and community organizations determined by an advi- sory group. By the end of October 2013, over ninety organizations had received $25,000,000. in grants. Recipients include Coastal Habitat for Humanity ($714,000.), Preferred Behavioral Health ($300,000.), and Brick Township's Church of the Visitation ($430,000.). For the com- plete list of grantees, visit their web- site and click on grants. CATHOLIC CHARITIES 1-800-652-2080 www.catholiccharitiestrenton.org Total Raised (as of December 2013): Disaster Case Management: $8,947,000.; Disaster Response Program: $1,617,760. Total Distributed (as of December 2013): Disaster Case Management: to be determined; Disaster Response Program: $1,018,731. Beneficiaries: No income require- ments; assistance is based upon need. Catholic Charities' Disaster Response services are helping Sandy victims in two ways: the state Disaster Case Management (DCM) contract as well as the Diocese of Trenton's Disaster Response Program. The DCM contract runs through October 31, 2014. Direct financial assistance is not available; however, qualified applicants will receive a case manager who will refer them to other organizations and/or sources within Catholic Charities. Those in need can call 1-877-510-6762 for more information. The Disaster Response Program, which also runs until October 31, 2014, provides financial help to vic- tims. Assistance depends on many variables, including mortgage/rent/ utilities owed, the extent of the repairs needed to make the home habitable, the cost of temporary housing, and how much the house- hold is able to pay from their own assets. Those in need can continue to receive help through summer 2014 by contacting Catholic Charities at 1-800-652-2080. — Laura Webber Kerwin Still struggling after Sandy? Dial 2-1-1. Call specialists will link those in need with appropriate resources and Catholic Charities Case Managers. Their website, with a listing of resources, is www.NJ211.org.

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