Photo: U.S. Sen. Charles Schumer (c.), seen here in Breezy Point a few days following Superstorm Sandy, announced that federal funds are on the way to Catholic Charities to keep its Sandy case management program going. Courtesy of flickr/Bobby Plasencia.
U.S. Sen. Charles Schumer (D-N.Y.) on Tuesday announced that the Federal Emergency Management Agency has approved $2.1 million in funding for Catholic Charities, the organization operating the New York State Disaster Case Management Program for Superstorm Sandy victims, which will allow the program to continue through October.
“Catholic Charities is pleased that FEMA has responded positively to Senator Schumer’s push to approve NYS’s request to provide funding needed to continue professional case management services to those individuals and families still struggling to recover from the devastating impact of Superstorm Sandy,” said Msgr. Kevin Sullivan, executive director of Catholic Charities.
Through the DCMP, caseworkers are assigned to help Sandy victims as they work to rebuild their lives. Specifically, they help answer questions about recovery, develop a plan, connect individuals with appropriate community resources, determine the type of financial assistance that may be available and advocate on a person’s behalf.
According to Schumer’s office, Catholic Charities and its network of 14 community based organizations have approximately 120 caseworkers who provide services for Sandy victims. The caseworkers are still providing management services to approximately 3,000 active cases of New Yorkers struggling to recover from Sandy. The archdiocese submitted a request for more funding to help continue the Disaster Case Management Program through October. Without the additional funding, the archdiocese would not be able to help Sandy victims who still have open cases.
“With roughly 3,000 open cases still unfinished, Sandy victims desperately needed this extension to keep the focus on rebuilding their lives and their properties,” Schumer noted. “Without some help and expert advice from great organizations like Catholic Charities, it’s very difficult for homeowners to juggle the competing interests pulling on them. This money will allow this process to continue and we will keep fighting for additional funds.”
By Michael V. Cusenza michael@theforumnewsgroup.com
