Renters Safe Housing Incentive Program

The Ida Renters Safe Housing Incentives Program (RSHI) will encourage renters to relocate from storm-damaged homes while remaining in their existing communities by providing:

• Rental Safe Housing Relocation Incentive: Up to $50,000 for renters who relocate into permanent and safe rental units.
• Safe Housing Homeownership Assistance: Up to $50,000 in down payment assistance to purchase permanent safe housing; and
• Moving Assistance: Assistance with moving costs into permanent and safe housing, either rental or homeownership.

Please note that eligible applicants may receive the Rental Safe Housing Relocation Incentive or Safe Housing Homeownership Assistance, but not both.

The program is administered by the nonprofit Community Housing Innovations, Inc. (CHI), with outreach support from the Community Resource Center.

Eligible Applicants

• Rented their home in Dutchess, Orange, Nassau, Rockland, Suffolk, or Westchester County at the time of Hurricane Ida.
• Already moved to safer housing or are planning to move because of Hurricane Ida.
• Have income at or below 80% of the county Area Median Income OR have income between 81%-160% of the county Area Median Income and are a member of a vulnerable population.
  • Vulnerable populations includes but are not limited to: families with children under the age of 18, elderly households, disabled households, veteran populations, hardship cases, LEP individuals, immigrants, Single Family heads of household, LGBTQ+ individuals, and historically disadvantaged members of protected classes including race, color, national origin, religion, sex, and familial status).

RSHI Clarifications and Appeals Policy

RSHI applicants and participants have the right to dispute or request further review of certain decisions made by the program. This can include:

• Program eligibility
• Duplication of Benefits
• Calculation of grant award

To request review of a decision, an applicant must:

1. First, request a clarification from their Case Manager.
2. After receiving a response to the clarification, if the applicant still believes the decision is incorrect according to existing program policy, an applicant may request an appeal.

Filing a Clarification

After receiving a decision from the program, such as a Letter of Ineligibility or an Award letter, the application has 30 days to submit a Clarification Request Form to their Case Manager to dispute the decision. CHI will review and respond in writing within 10 business days.

Filing an Appeal

If the applicant disagrees with the clarification determination, they may appeal the decision. The appeal must include a detailed explanation of why the applicant believes the Program’s decision is wrong according to Program policy and must include any supporting documents. All appeals must be submitted within 30 days of the clarification determination by emailing the Appeal Form to the applicant’s Case Manager.

Appeal Review and Determination

The RSHI Appeals and Hardship Committee, staffed by RHC, will review and make a decision regarding the appeal. The committee will review only the facts and information already in the applicant’s file. New facts or information will only be considered if the applicant can show that it was not possible to provide them prior to submitting the Appeal Form.

Once a decision is made, RHC will issue a decision in writing to the applicant. The letter will reflect all factors reviewed in the appeal, including any updated documentation or calculations related to duplication of benefits, eligible expenses, and Program guidelines.

Appeal Withdrawals

If an appeal is unclear or requires additional information, and the Case Manager has made several attempts to reach the applicant with no response, the Program may withdraw the appeal.

The applicant will be notified of the forthcoming withdrawal in writing. If an applicant wishes to continue the appeal process, they may contact the Program within 5 business days.

Demonstrable Hardship

In certain cases, an applicant or participant may request an exception to program policy based on a hardship they are experiencing. Such requests should be made to the Case Manager.

The RSHI Policy Manual contains more information about clarifications, appeals, and demonstrable hardship.

Contact

Applicants who have questions or concerns should contact their Case Manager.

Community Housing Innovations: (914) 595- 0986 or [email protected]

Applicants may file a written complaint through the disaster recovery email [email protected] or submit via mail to the following address:

Office of Resilient Homes and Communities, 641 Lexington Avenue, New York, NY 10022

The State’s goal is to provide an opportunity to resolve complaints in a timely manner. RHC will provide a timely written response (either by letter or email, as applicable) within fifteen (15) business days of the receipt of the complaint, as expected by HUD. Should the State require more time than described above to respond to a complaint, RHC will document the reason for the delayed response.

If the complaint is not satisfied by RHC’s response or subrecipient determination, the complainant may file a written appeal by following the instructions issued in the letter of response.