For the residents of Ba Mar Manufactured Home Community in Stony Point, New York, Superstorm Sandy is still fresh in their minds from the damage it inflicted in 2012.
On January 26th, residents packed Stony Point Center to learn about what options would be available to them through the Governor’s Office of Storm Recovery (GOSR).
According to the Rockland Times, this is not the first program offered, but it may very well be the last.
The problem is that the limit on what can be offered and spent by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) is capped. Under the new proposal, those with a family of four or more would receive up to $125,000; three people, up to $115,000; for one or two people, up to $105,000.
Funds can be used to either buy a new home in another manufactured community, receive homeownership assistance for a single family house or condo, or receive 42 months of rent, made in two payments, based on household composition and eligibility.
For those who choose to take advantage of one of the three options, they would have their Ba Mar home demolished with installation costs for only a new home located outside the flood plain zone at no charge to them.
Moving costs would be covered by the Federal Highway Administration, with a standard relocation rate of $1,000-$2,000.
But many of the residents at the meeting expressed concerns about a number of potential issues.
Those that have children in the North Rockland School District had concerns about finding a new manufactured home in the same area, or not being eligible for homeownership due to poor credit.
Other residents said that rent offers most likely would not likely cover the average rental fees.
And comments from a resident who has already moved seemed to validate some of the concerns.
“The cost for both a deck and a shed cost me $5000 out of pocket,” said Nancy McErleane, who had already moved to a new manufactured home in Stony Point under a previous GOSR offer.
“You need a deck to get into the house.”
Supervisor Jim Monaghan reassured the audience that the Ba Mar property is zoned for manufactured homes and will remain that way. For those who want to stay put, they can.
The GOSR provided caseworkers at the meeting to help residents get the process started if they wanted to take one of the relocation options, and would have someone on site at the community 2 to 3 times per week to help residents as needed.
“I hope things will work out for people still living here,” said Ba Mar spokesperson Millie Garcia.
“Manufactured home communities are few and many residents will have difficulty finding decent housing, whether in North Rockland or elsewhere.”
For at least one former resident, it’s not that easy.
“We lost everything,” said Andy Lopez.
“And there is no help out there for us.”
The Rockland Action Coalition is working with GOSR to help Ba Mar homeowners and renters decide the next step. RAC can be reached at 845-708-5799 Ext. 202. ##
(Image credits are as shown above.)
Submitted by RC Williams to the Daily Business News for MHProNews.
