Oceanside resident awaits recovery funds

In a press release last week, Governor Andrew Cuomo’s office announced a an initiative to allot $300 million through the NY Rising Housing Recovery Program to help enable homeowners to elevate their property to protect against hurricane damage. This money, the Governor’s office said, was on top of the $350 that has already been promised to residents whose homes were damaged by Superstorm Sandy in October 2012.

According to the July 30 press release, “To date, the agency has issued 8,000 storm-impacted homeowners with more than $350 million, helping communities throughout New York to recover from recent storms and build back even better than before.”

Like hundreds of other residents of Long Island, Oceanside’s Virginia Mazurkiewicz wonders if she’ll ever see a penny. Mazurkiewicz, who lives in a home off Waukeena Avenue, paid $65,000 out-of-pocket to restore her entire first floor, which was destroyed by Sandy. She has been informed that her application was approved, but claims that she has repeatedly been told there is “no timetable” as to when the money will be released.

“My house was severely damaged by Sandy,” she said. “I was one of the first to apply for help from NY rising. I paid everything out of pocket. “

Part of the problem, Mazurkiewitz says, is that she’s had three different caseworkers assigned to her application.

“Every time I call to inquire about my help, I am told they don’t know when [the money will be released]. I am 78 years old and, at my age, I would like to get on with my life, but can’t until I hear from them. I feel NY rising is waiting for people to get so disgusted they will just give up.

“To be honest, I would like to move, but I’m trapped here.”