NJ receives $226 million federal grant

New Jersey has received a $226 million supplemental Social Services Block Grant (SSBG) from the US Department of Health and Human Services to cover social services expenditures directly related to Hurricane Sandy.  The funds will help support and extend health care and social services that became necessary in the aftermath of Superstorm Sandy.  Announcing the grant Governor Chris Christie said “This infusion of funds will go directly to support services with a focus on health, mental health and children’s services, and provide an important supplement to our ongoing recovery-related social service initiatives and those proposed in our Community Development Block Grant Action, which is now before the federal government.”

 The SSBG will be distributed among state agencies to cover eligible social services expenditures.

“This funding is critical to rebuilding and preserving the social service safety net in the areas most impacted by Hurricane Sandy,” said DHS Commissioner Jennifer Velez. “In the months and years to come, these services will be essential to facilitating the state’s full recovery.”