WTC program beneficiary assistance tracking, February 2003

NYC 9/11 Public Portal Document

In March 2001, immediately after receiving my asbestos test results, I sent the labc.. atory report to FEMA, along with a letter from my physician. FFMA initially denied my request for continued temporary housing assistance (they suggested that I could remove the asbestos myself by usirg a HEPA vacuum), but due to Congressman Nadler's intervention, as well as assistance from Senator Clinton’s office, in early May 200?, I was advised that the temporary housing assistance would be continued, for at least a short period of time. Due to FEMA’s initial refusal to continue assisting me, I had to pay the hotel in March and Aprrl 2002 out of my savings. I was reimbursed by FEMA in May 2002 for the .ills I had paid out of pocket. I was advised by Senator Clinton's office in June 2002 that continued temporary housing assistance from FEMA would be dependent upon my progress in having the 1 asbestos remo’/ed from my apartment.

I note that 1 lost my job on November 30, 2001, due to the closing of the company 1 worked for. In addition to concerns about the contamination xn my apartment, I sought the continuation of temporary housing assistance because it would have been impossible for me to find a new apartment without a job, and I would not have been able to afford a new apartmer.r without a job. I worked diligently throughout last year at an outplacement office provided by my prior employer, trying to find a new job. I oegan a new job three weeks ago, in January 2003.

I registered _or the EPA's WTC Asbestos Cleaning Program on June 13, 2002, immedia’-’ely after the registration period began. Since June 2002, I have spoken every ten days to two weeks with Ben Barry, the EPA’s Community Liaison Officer for the WTC Asbestos Cleaning Program, to try to find out wr.en my apartment would be cleaned. Beginning in June 2002, I was told thac cleaning would begin in July, and that I would likely be back in my home in July and August. In September 2002, I was told that the EPA needed to spend time examining the ductwork and ventilation systems in my building before any apartments were cleaned. I was told that if dust and debris was found in the ductwork, that the ductwork would have to be cleaned before any apartments were cleaned. I continued calxing and speaking to Mr. Barry from September through November 2002. In late November, Mr. Barry advised me that visible dust and debris frcra the World Trade Center had indeed been found in the ductwork and ventilation systems in my building, and that it would likely be some months before my apartment would be cleaned. He advised me that the ductwork had to be cleaned first, to prevent apartments from being recontaminated from the ductwork. In December and January, Mr. Barry told me at various times to contact him again in a few weeks, as he would have more information at that time. Mr. Barry advised me yesterday that the EPA will begin cleaning the ductwork and ventilation systems in my building and in my complex generally within a few days, and that apartments will be cleaned thereafter. Again, however, Mr. Barry did not commit to any date or month in which my apartment might be cleaned. He told me that it is very difficult to estimate when the cleaning of my apartment will take place.

Since May 20C2, FEMA has generally been prompt in continuing the temporary housing assistance which permitted me to have a place to live while (a) my apartment is inhabitable due to asbestos contamination from the WTC, and ^b) while I was unemployed and looking for a new job. I have applied for recertification every two months by faxing a letter and my receipts from the hotel, showing that I have paid the hotel the exact amount of money disbursed to me by FHMA for the prior two months; it has generally, each time, taken only a few weeks for FEMA to reach a decision, and approve my request for recertification.

On January 3, 2003, I faxed a letter to FEMA, along with receipts from the Tribeca Grand Hotel from November and December 2002. On January 21, 2003, I spoke to a FEMA representative, who told me that my request for 3

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