DeLauro Urges State to Provide Immediate Relief for CT Homeowners

Residents Still Struggling To Recover From Sandy

WASHINGTON, D.C. – February 4, 2014 – (RealEstateRama) — Congresswoman Rosa DeLauro (CT-3) today urged the Connecticut Interagency Hazard Mitigation Committee to reconsider their decision not to award any Hazard Mitigation grant funds to Connecticut residents trying to rebuild from Hurricane Sandy. She also urged Governor Malloy and the Department of Housing to move more quickly in making Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funds available to residents, including by prioritizing homeowners in the state’s plan for the next round of CDBG funds.

“Given that Connecticut still has need amongst residents, I am writing to strongly urge the Committee to allow funding to be directed to projects that assist homeowners in its reassessment,” she wrote in a letter to Governor Dannel Malloy. “In addition, I continue to urge that the Connecticut Department of Housing must move expeditiously in making the first round of CDBG-DR monies available to residents…Lastly, I urge [Governor Malloy] to prioritize the struggling homeowners in the state’s plan for the second round of CDBG-DR monies totaling $66 million announced on October 28, 2013.”

DeLauro also thanked Governor Malloy for his announcement last Friday ordering the Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection to reconvene the Committee in order to reconsider its decision not to grant Hazard Mitigation funds to any residents. That grant program has traditionally been used for homeowners struggling to rebuild their lives in the aftermath of devastating storms like Hurricane Sandy.

On Friday, DeLauro also applauded Senate passage of legislation designed to stop rising flood insurance premiums. She called on Republican leadership to bring the floor to the House of Representatives, saying in part “The Senate bill would rightfully delay premium increases until FEMA can complete their affordability study and ensure the new rates are affordable, while also reflecting the flood risk.”