More Sandy aid to flow in 2014

Government officials announced this week that a second round of Hurricane Sandy aid money would be available — and should flow more easily — to both homeowners and municipalities in 2014.

The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development announced that New York state would receive an additional $2.1 billion of Sandy aid next year. Additionally, U.S. Sen. Charles Schumer released a report saying that the state is set to receive an estimated $6.3 billion in relief funding in 2014 — money that has been allocated, but has yet to be distributed.

The new HUD money will be distributed through the agency’s Community Development Block Grant program, which is administering the $1.7 billion that HUD awarded the state in its first round of funding in February. According to a press release from the agency, the money will be used for unmet housing, economic development and infrastructure needs.

“One year later, it’s clear these communities continue to be challenged by the sheer scale of this devastating storm, requiring further investment to make certain these needs are met,” HUD Secretary Shaun Donovan stated in the release. “These resources are making a difference helping individuals, families and businesses to get back on their feet and come back stronger and more resilient than ever.”

Schumer also released a progress report this week that detailed the successes and failures in the first year of recovery, and laid out what needs to be done in the coming year to improve programs and the dispersal of funds.

In the report, Schumer said that New York state should receive about $6.3 billion in recovery funds in 2014. Most of that money has already been earmarked for Sandy recovery projects, but has yet to be distributed to homeowners, businesses and municipalities. It does not include the $2.1 billion of second-round HUD funding. Schumer said that, to date, less than one-third of the $60 billion Hurricane Sandy Relief Bill approved by Congress has been spent.