O.C.E.A.N. Inc. Has Help For Storm Victims Who Meet Income Guidelines
The Toms River-based anti-poverty agency provides help with rent, food vouchers, building materials
A resin sea gull survived Hurricane Sandy, near a home in Good Luck Point that washed off its foundation
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Many people in Ocean County don't know much about O.C.E.A.N. Inc. And Executive Director Theodore Gooding wants to change that.
"We do a lot of things for folks that are free if they are income eligible," Gooding said at a recent Superstorm Sandy informational session organized by Berkeley Township officials and held at the Berkeley Township Elementary School.
He also wants residents to know that O.C.E.A.N. Inc. (Ocean Community Economic Action Now) can help storm victims who meet the income guidelines through the O.C.E.A.N., Inc. Community Partners Outreach and Relief Recovery Fund, along with a number of other programs.
"There were $191 million in uninsured losses in Ocean County," Gooding said at a recent Superstorm Sandy information session sponsored by Berkeley Township at the Berkeley Township Elementary School.
"That's a lot," he said. "There's a gap that has to be filled. We are losing people every day. We need to get them back in their homes."
He urged residents to fill out applications for assistance.
"If you need a check, I can write it tonight," Gooding said at the informational seminar. "We need to make it happen. I'm disappointed in the number of applications that are not coming in."
The anti-poverty agency - which also runs the Head Start and weatherization programs in Ocean County - has about $1 million to spending on heating assistance, thanks to a grant from the state Department of Community Affairs, he said.
O.C.E.A.N., Inc. provides services to residents who are at 100 percent to 225 percent of the federal poverty guidelines. The income thresholds range from $22,340 for one person; $46,100 for a family of four to $77,780 for a family of eight.
Residents who need assistance with heating should contact O.C.E.A.N. Inc.s' weatherization department at 22 Hyers Street, Toms River, NJ, or call 732-244-8176.
• Application for Superstorm Sandy assistance can be obtained at the following address:
O.C.E.A.N., Inc. Community Partners Outreach and Recovery Fund
22 Hyers Street; P.O. Box 1029
Toms River, NJ 08754-1029
For more information, contact Tina Clark at (732) 244-2351, Ext. 20. O.C.E.A.N. Inc. hours are Monday through Friday, 8:30 am to 4:30 pm.
proud
3:48 pm on Sunday, February 10, 2013
Before you know it, there will be more qualified applicants then one could even imagine. Please educate yourself and urge everyone you know to do so. The implications are wide spread and threaten the financial stability of millions of New Jerseyans
www.Facebook.com/StopFemaNow
George
7:39 am on Monday, February 11, 2013
Far more uninsured losses than $191 million. Add to the actual costs of rebuilding the astronomical costs of raising buildings to FEMA's pie-in-the-sky mandate!
Then there are the exorbitant annual costs of insurance premiums on buildings that can't be raised, and the costs to all of us (even the unflooded) to make up for the soon-to-be-abandoned tax ratables in every town. FEMA is drowning the Shore more than Sandy ever did. It's the "disaster after the storm disaster."
PLS
7:44 am on Monday, February 11, 2013
Thanks for the information , I just do not want to end up in the streets. Is that the American way to help or own!!
Chief Wahoo
6:12 pm on Sunday, February 10, 2013
the master plan is to ask, why even work ????
PLS
7:39 am on Monday, February 11, 2013
Try getting a job!! BUT to help people like my self for a few months. That is what it is about. not the people screwing the insurance company's for what they can get out of them. I lost my job do to Sandy & all i received was 2 weeks of UE. still out of a job 2 1/2 months & been applying all over., still whating for an advance from my insurance which is a good one & I have plenty of it & paid for it for the past 13 years. go figure!! Now i was told to retain a laywer!! My life savings is going out the window.
Bob Short
1:35 pm on Wednesday, February 13, 2013
Chief - I hear you, I'm hearring about it every day. NO College Degree - No job. If your over 45 - you have major problems. there are no jobs. if your not in the same field, no one wants to hire you. A friend of mine worked as a manager for 20 yrs. Lost his job, tried for a trucking job - over quallified ( he didn't look like the others). He ran around to the local Brick contractors for labor work, they wouldn't hire him, because he wasn't a contractor - yet all the workers had no expierance either? you go to an employment agentcy, your dealling with a 26yr old Kid- who will judge you and advise that you need to go back to College for 4yrs.? How can anyone focus on that when he or she has $3000- 4000 a month going out the door between a house,taxes ,insurence, auto loan, debts, utilities and a family? a person has to file bankruptcey, loose everything, - possible divorce from it. just to be on the system.? WoW - it's a whole new world I guess. ? people need to become more realistic with the times..
George
8:17 am on Monday, February 11, 2013
Protect your property value and save our Shore communities. Fight the expensive mandates and prevent mass abandonment of neighborhoods. Come to the next meeting of "Stop FEMA Now" on Saturday, Feb. 23rd, 3-4 pm, at Belly Busters Restaurant, 708 Fischer Blvd., Toms River.
More info at: Facebook.com/StopFemaNow
Bob Short
1:26 pm on Wednesday, February 13, 2013
$22,340 for one person / 12 months = $1861.67 per month income / 4 weeks = $465.42 per week income / which = $11.64 an hour. ? if you make $465.42 a weel - 32% [ taxes,insur,Fed,SSUI,State] take home is $311.84.. if that's a real number ? your monthly take home would be about $1247.00 a month.? How can anyone live on that ?
If you are single, and make $15 - 20.00 an hour, now fallen behind.
There are no programs to help you - because - You do not meet the quallifications.
a person would need to make $60K a year, with out a college degree in order to get caught up.? where are those $50-60K year jobs in Ocean County ? There are none.
Contactors are paying the undocumented labors $16 - 20 an hour - cash.? to work on all these homes in Brick. As long as the Insurence companies are paying, no one is asking any questions. ? I guess - we over look insurence fraud these days.
you can't get a job to stay alive in NJ. with out filling Bankruptcey or Forclosure.?
mineeeemoh
9:18 am on Friday, February 15, 2013
Everyone is complaining about FEMA when they should be emailing the planning boards, land use, Mayors, freeholders, congress representatives, engineers and governor. Everybody has a personal story. It's a shame if only those who are socially involved get all of the help. Our group is taking the bull by the horns.