Rental Assistance Increase for Hurricane Sandy Victims

I am pleased to announce that the amount of temporary rental assistance for storm survivors in her district available through the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) is increasing by 25 percent.

The increase accounts for the higher cost of living in places like Long Island compared to other parts of the country.

Too many people are still without power and unable to be back in their homes. While we work to make sure that LIPA gets the lights back on for those remaining customers, the federal government is doing everything we can to make sure that those who are displaced are getting the help they need.

Families and individuals on Long Island who are registered for federal disaster assistance and seeking rental resources can search through listings on the FEMA Housing Portal.

The FEMA Housing Portal consolidates rental resources identified and provided by a variety of federal agencies, such as the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), and the U.S. Veterans Administration (VA), but also lists rental properties provided by private organizations and property owners willing to help their neighbors during these difficult times.

Carolyn McCarthy is the representative of New York’s Fourth Congressional District. She was first elected in 1996.