Tornado Re-Building and Re-Housing Update

As 2012 begins and we await the final publication of Springfield's rebuilding plan, HAPHousing continues to work with survivors of the June 1, 2011 tornado.  The extent of the damage is illustrated by the fact that more than 10,000 residents and businesses had filed insurance claims or asked for government assistance for a total of about $187 million in property damage as of September 1, 2011.  Springfield condemned 514 housing units, including 357 rental units (90 of those were subsidized).  At least 118 homes in Monson, 13 in Wilbraham and 39 in Brimfield werre rendered uninhabitable.  Another 200 homes in Brimfield, 257 in Westfield, and about 700 housing units (some apartments) sustained damage. Disaster shelters in Springfield and West Springfield housed over 400 displaced people.  HAPHousing, along with other agencies, conducted more than 600 housing assessments for displaced families and assisted over 275 families relocate in the first four weeks after the June 1 tornado. 

HAPHousing staff members continue to work on the front lines to help displaced low-income families find new apartments as quickly as possible.  Some survivors moved into temporary settings assuming they would be able to return to their homes.  Even in January 2012, some families are seeking assistance as it becomes clear that their temporary accommodations are inadequate or their former homes will not be available soon, or in some cases, at all.  Some homeowners are discovering that they do not have the resources, even with insurance and FEMA assistance, to rehabilitation or rebuild their homes.  Once replacement housing is located, some families who lost everything face the daunting task of replacing all their basic household essentials -- furniture, beds, sheets and towels, pots and pans, dishes, etc., etc. Fundraising is ongong to help cover the costs of these efforts.  We expect to be actively engaged in rehousing tornado victims throughout 2012 as FEMA indicates that there is normally about an 18 month recovery period.

If you're a tornado victim and haven't yet filled out a housing assessment form, come to HAPHousing at 322 Main Street, Springfield or call 413-233-1500 to speak to a housing specialist.  For information on financial assistance available to re-house tornado survivors, click here.  For information on how tornado survivors can access furniture and other household goods, click here.

If you are a homeowner whose home was damaged by the tornado, the City of Springfield has produced a helpful "REBUILDING GUIDE FOR HOMEOWNERS".

In Springfield, a significant part of the Six Corners neighborhood and a small section of Old Hill – neighborhoods we have been revitalizing – were very badly damaged. Many houses on some streets are decimated. It is heartbreaking to see our already struggling city hit so hard. Click here for photos.

Donations Needed

The displaced families we are working with desperately need help paying the upfront costs of moving into a new apartment. While we have made excellent progress and assisted more than 400 families, we continue to actively pursue donations for this purpose and collecting all kinds of essential household items. 

If you need help understanding your rights as a tenant, please contact HAPHousing at 413-233-1551.

If you are a tenant who lost an apartment in the tornado, click here for information about your security deposit, etc.