Governor Kathy Hochul speaks with local residents during a visit to a storm damaged neighborhood in Queens, NY earlier this month. (Photo: Don Pollard/Office of Governor Kathy Hochul)

The program offers assistance to those who cannot qualify for federal relief. On September 26, 2021, Governor Kathy Hochul announced that $27 million will be available for relief from Hurricane Ida for undocumented New Yorkers. Undocumented New Yorkers who suffered from the historic flooding and storm damage are not eligible to receive storm recovery assistance through the FEMA Individual Assistance Program or other programs due to their undocumented status. The New York State Office for New Americans (ONA) will manage the program.

The program will offer up to $27 million in grants distributed through an established network of community organizations. These organizations will provide information and assistance to impacted residents. The following organizations are participating: 

– The Bronx: Catholic Charities Community Services, 402 East 152nd Street, Bronx, NY 10455

– Brooklyn: Chinese American Planning Council, 4101 8th Ave, 4th Floor, Brooklyn, NY 11232

– Queens: MinKwon, 133-29 41st Avenue, Suite 202, Flushing, NY 11355; Make the Road, 92-10 Roosevelt Ave, Jackson Heights, NY 11372

– Staten Island: Make the Road, 161 Port Richmond Ave, Staten Island, NY 10302

Organizations in Westchester, Rockland, Suffolk and Nassau Counties are also participating. The selected counties were chosen because these counties were designated in the Presidential Major Disaster Declaration and approved for individual assistance. 

Organizations began accepting applications on September 27th and will continue to accept applications through Friday, November 26th. To qualify for assistance, applicants must not be eligible for FEMA assistance and not have an individual in their household who is eligible for federal assistance. Impacted residents can call the ONA Hotline at 1-800-566-7636 from 9 AM – 8 PM Monday through Friday or visit the charities’ location in person. Hotline assistance is available in over 200 languages.

Both the State and City have been working toward offering relief, assistance and support for victims of Hurricane Ida. Governor Hochul’s office launched www.ny.gov/Ida as an online resource hub for information about how to apply for assistance, find services like shelter and food. Similarly, the de Blasio administration opened five storm relief services centers across the city, which can be found here. For CityLand’s previous coverage of the city’s response to Ida, click here.

Governor Hochul stated, “”When I saw the devastation of Hurricane Ida, I pledged that we would do everything in our power to help impacted communities recover, and this funding is a fulfillment of that promise. With these resources dedicated to undocumented New Yorkers who are ineligible for FEMA relief and partnerships with organizations on the ground, we can close gaps in aid and help New Yorkers in need. I urge eligible New Yorkers to apply to get the funding they need to rebuild.”

Mayor Bill de Blasio stated, “We will ensure New Yorkers have access to the aid they need to recover from the devastating impacts of Hurricane Ida. Regardless of documentation status, we will get support to the most recent victims of our climate crisis and are here to help every step of the way.”

By: Veronica Rose (Veronica is the CityLaw fellow and a New York Law School graduate, Class of 2018.)