The New Jersey Department of Community Affairs (DCA) has announced a significant update to its Mitigation Assistance Program (MAP). The program will now accept applications on a rolling basis from homeowners in flood-prone areas who wish to elevate their homes to mitigate future flooding risks.
"As demonstrated by significant flooding from recent rainstorms, New Jersey communities are increasingly susceptible to flooding due to more frequent storms and heavy precipitation events," stated DCA Acting Commissioner Jacquelyn A. Suárez. "By moving to a rolling application period for MAP, DCA will be able to identify those most in need, which will help the Department more efficiently target assistance."
Supported by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), MAP assists homeowners with construction costs related to property mitigation against flood damage, including home elevation. The program may also offer temporary rental assistance during construction. FEMA's criteria for eligibility are based on historical flooding incidents and future flood risk assessments.
"MAP is helping meet the changing needs of New Jersey residents in this new reality of more frequent severe storms and flooding," said DCA Deputy Commissioner Samuel Viavattine, head of the Division of Disaster Recovery and Mitigation. "We want to make the program more accessible to New Jersey homeowners affected by flooding. We encourage homeowners impacted by flooding to learn more about MAP and apply if they think they might be eligible."
Funding for MAP relies on federal funding, typically available through an annual competitive application process. Applicant selection depends on the availability of these funds.
Homeowners interested in applying can find more information and request an application at https://www.nj.gov/dca/ddrm/programs/mitigation.shtml on the DCA website. While submitting an application does not guarantee financial assistance, it is essential for expressing interest in home elevation and flood mitigation. For further inquiries, homeowners can contact the Division of Disaster Recovery and Mitigation via email at MitigationAssistance@dca.nj.gov or call (609) 292-3750.
Beyond disaster recovery and mitigation efforts, DCA provides various programs and services including local government management, affordable housing production, building safety, community planning and development, fire safety, and information privacy.
