NYDIS Receives State Funding to Support Puerto Rican Evacuees

On July 25th, New York Governor Cuomo announced $2 Million in state funding to support the thousands of displaced Hurricane Maria survivors who evacuated to New York – including funding to increase the case management capacity of NYDIS’ Evacuee Services Program. The announcement builds on the Governor’s previous commitment of up to $11 Million in housing and workforce funding. New York Disaster Interfaith Services (NYDIS) is one of seven organizations chosen by the Governor to receive funding for needs assessments and case management services.

“The governor’s announcement was the culmination of 10 months of self-funded direct services and grassroots advocacy with many partners, most especially former NYC Council Speaker Melissa Mark-Viverito, Jonathan Soto of Union Theological Seminary, Chelsea Rising, the Bronx Coalition & the NYC-Puerto Rico Long-Term Recovery Group,” says NYDIS Executive Director, Peter B. Gudaitis, M.Div., “For the past ten months, NYDIS and our disaster human services partners have been rebuilding evacuees lives. As we enter the long-term recovery phase, this funding will allow NYDIS to continue providing direct assistance and resources to insure all evacuees achieve sustainable recovery, whether resettled in New York or back in Puerto Rico. We are grateful that Governor Cuomo has recognized our efforts and the dire circumstances facing evacuee resettlement.”