United Way awarded $50,000 grant for flood victims in Schoharie and Saratoga counties

ALBANY, N.Y. – United Way of the Greater Capital Region received a $50,000 grant from the Hurricane Irene Recovery Fund (HIRF) administered by United Way of New York State. The funds will be used to meet the immediate needs of flood-affected homeowners -- including replacement of water-damaged sheetrock and insulation, installation of new furnaces, debris removal and mold abatement –- and to advance long-term recovery efforts  through case management and coordination of services.

Susan Hager, President of United Way of New York State notes that, “Although these storms were over four months ago, many families in hard-hit communities still need our help with those things that many of us take for granted.  We will continue to raise money, and work with our charitable and governmental partners to make grants, for as long as that help is needed."

HIRF was set up by United Way of New York State at the request of Governor Cuomo to provide recovery assistance to individuals and families affected by Hurricane Irene and Tropical Storm Lee. Grants are allocated to local United Ways or other charitable partners as their designees. The fund is intended to address unmet immediate and longer term needs that are either not covered by insurance or other government programs or where there is an emergency need that cannot wait for those funds to become available. 

To date the Hurricane Irene Recovery Fund has received donations totaling $200,000 and awarded $131,000 in grants to United Ways of Delaware and Otsego Counties, Dutchess and Orange Counties, the Greater Capital Region and Ulster County.  This funding will assist more than 160 families with such things as temporary housing, rental and mortgage assistance, furnace replacement, mold eradiation, housing remediation, building supplies, transportation and the purchase of beds, bedding, clothing, school supplies and household cleaners.  Three Orange County school districts were also assisted with flood-related clean-up.

The grant awarded to United Way of the Greater Capital Region will support

• The purchase of cleaning supplies, sump pumps, generators, fans and dehumidifiers, three furnaces, sheet rock, insulation, and professional debris removal services for approximately a dozen families in Waterford.
• Hiring of debris removal services and professional laborers to bring flood-ravaged homes up to building codes for 35 families in Schoharie County.
• Hiring a part-time Disaster Case Management Supervisor who will work through the Schoharie Area Long Term Recovery Team (SALT) to oversee volunteer case managers and help coordinate the efforts of community agencies.

United Way of the Greater Capital Region applied for the grant after helping to convene an Unmet Needs Committee to identify gaps in recovery to date and ensure that families who did not qualify for federal assistance get the help they need.

“Thanks to our community’s generosity, United Way continues to respond to those affected by last season’s historic floods,” said Brian T. Hassett, President and CEO of United Way of the Greater Capital Region. “Many people still face severe challenges on the path to recovery. United Way’s role is to identify needs and focus resources on issues that are larger than any one agency can handle alone. While there is still much work to be done, the help we offered after the floodwaters receded and the additional assistance we can now provide, thanks to this grant, are powerful examples of the difference we make when individuals and organizations step up and give.”

The need for additional resources remains critical.  The Hurricane Irene Recovery Fund has outstanding requests for $91,000 (exceeding the funding that is currently available) with additional applications expected from other hard-hit communities that are just now developing a clearer understanding of their longer term recovery needs.  To make a contribution to the Hurricane Irene Recovery Fund go to www.uwnys.org.

United Way of the Greater Capital Region identifies critical community issues and brings people,  resources, volunteers and partner organizations together to improve lives and community conditions across Albany, Rensselaer, Saratoga, Schenectady and Schoharie counties. Learn more at www.unitedwaygcr.org.

United Way of New York State strengthens the capacity of local community-based United Ways to be leaders in achieving results that improve the lives of all New Yorkers. Learn more at www.uwnys.org.