Vermont To Help Displaced Vermonters Through CDBG Funds

VPR/ Nancy Cohen

A house in South Newfane was totally destroyed by flooding from Tropical Storm Irene. The state hopes to give assistance to homeowners who qualify for FEMA's Hazard Mitigation Program.

A lot of Vermonters displaced by Irene are hoping their home will be bought out by the FEMA hazard mitigation program, which pays up to 75 percent of the home's pre-storm fair market value.

Jennifer Hollar, Deputy Commissioner of the Vermont Department of Economic, Housing and Community Development, says the state is committed to helping homeowners who qualify for FEMA mitigation make up that remaining 25 percent gap. Hollar tells VPR's Mitch Wertlieb, that even for families who don't qualify for Hazard Mitigation, help could be available in the form of Community Development Block Grants awarded to Vermont from the federal Department of Housing and Urban Development, in a pool of money totaling more than $21 million.

Click listen to hear the interview.