Sandy victims’ needs remain the same, two years later

One year after Superstorm Sandy devastated New Jersey, Monmouth University surveyed the hardest-hit victims and asked what kind of help they still needed. Thursday, Monmouth released a new poll that revealed the same victims still need the same things today as they did a year ago.

"Fifty-eight percent of impacted residents said that they still needed funds to elevate or rebuild their homes," said Patrick Murray, director of the Monmouth University Polling Institute. "Three in 10 of those impacted New Jerseyans said that they still needed help understanding the rebuilding rules and regulations. At least one in four say that they need help in making mortgage payments, at 28 percent, or rent payments, at 23 percent."

Four in 10 (42 percent) hard-hit residents still need assistance replacing furniture and appliances two years after Sandy. Roughly one in five needs assistance applying for construction and rebuilding permits (22 percent), getting legal help (21 percent), accessing mental and emotional counseling (21 percent), managing their debt (19 percent) and finding out whether their home is in the floodplain (19 percent).

"When we asked those who were hardest hit by the storm and are still trying to recover what their needs are, they're no different than what they were a year ago," Murray said.

There was one small change, Murray said. The percentage of impacted residents who need help paying their utilities has gone up a bit, from 21 percent last year to 28 percent now.

In 2013, Gov. Chris Christie's administration created the Sandy Homeowners and Renters Assistance Program to provide help with rent, mortgage, and utility payments, and to replace furniture and appliances.

A little less than half (48 percent) of the residents who participated in the survey registered for SHRAP. About seven in 10 of these recipients said they are very (42 percent) or somewhat (29 percent) satisfied with the program, while only 30 percent are dissatisfied.

In last year's poll, Monmouth University surveyed over 800 of the most impacted New Jersey residents to get their thoughts on recovery. For this poll, 747 people were surveyed, including 630 who were re-interviewed.