Catholic Charities, Diocese of Metuchen awarded $200,000 grant to aid Hurricane Ida recovery

PERTH AMBOY – Catholic Charities, Diocese of Metuchen, one of the largest nonprofit social service providers in New Jersey, was recently awarded a $200,741 grant to help aid unmet and long-term needs resulting from Hurricane Ida, which quickly blew through the state last September.
 

“Several of the counties we serve were devastated by the storm and the lasting damage it caused,” said Julio Coto, executive director of Catholic Charities, Diocese of Metuchen. “In the days that followed, as we began to assess the needs, it became clear very quickly that recovery would take months. While our staff members were there to assist in the immediate days that followed, the need was so overwhelming that we knew long-term assistance would be needed. This grant will go a long way in helping us to facilitate the recovery process.”
 

Awarded by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, the grant will fund a 12-month project that will “address the unmet needs of households impacted by Hurricane Ida, paying particular attention to households who may not be eligible for other government funding in the community,” according to the grant proposal submitted by Catholic Charities, Diocese of Metuchen. The project will address the needs of Somerset, Hunterdon, and Middlesex County residents affected by Hurricane Ida.
 

“In our initial outreach through our Office of Parish Social Ministry, 199 households were assessed and those with urgent, unmet needs were provided with direct financial assistance. During that same initial outreach, we learned that 64 households were displaced, with 20 households reporting they lost everything and an additional 10 households reporting they lost vehicles due to flooding,” said Coto. “Other needs identified included furniture replacement, replacement of personal belongings, and replacement of appliances including hot water heaters, HVAC systems, and washing machines and dryers. Even still, months later, many are struggling to cope with and recoup their losses.”
 

Understandably, in their initial outreach, Catholic Charities’ staff “observed trends of exhaustion, frustration, anger, sadness, depression, and impatience among those who were first impacted by the pandemic and subsequently impacted by the devastation caused by Hurricane Ida,” according to the grant proposal.
 

“For many of the people we have spoken with, the devastation caused by Hurricane Ida intensified the hardships they were already facing as the result of the pandemic,” said Coto. “Households that were already struggling with decreased income due to layoff, illness, or quarantine; those struggling to balance childcare needs and work responsibilities; and those in undocumented households who were unable to receive financial assistance, have now been faced with additional challenges, compounding an already stressful situation.”
 

With the funds received through the grant, Catholic Charities, Diocese of Metuchen can assist individuals with rental assistance, replacement of personal belongings, replacement of appliances and home repairs needed as the result of Hurricane Ida. In addition, Catholic Charities’ staff will be able to assist with short-term case management to ensure individuals receive additional community assistance, resources and support, as needed.
 

The disaster relief efforts are nothing new to the nonprofit agency, which in the past has helped residents of Middlesex, Somerset, Hunterdon and Warren Counties after disasters like Hurricane Sandy, residential fires, flooding and through everyday personal crises like poverty, homelessness, and substance abuse. With more than 20 sites and over 100 programs, Catholic Charities, Diocese of Metuchen has an extensive referral network and has a history of experience in providing services to all populations, even those difficult to reach.
 

“Some of the clients we expect to see come through this program may have never sought out social service supports on their own in the past, but we want to encourage anyone who has been affected to contact us. We are here for whatever need may arise,” said Coto.

Anyone affected by Hurricane Ida and in need of assistance is encouraged to contact [email protected] to determine eligibility.
 

Workman is the Communications Specialist in the Office of Communications and Public Relations