Sandy Victims Need More Time in Fort Monmouth Housing, Christie Says

Gov. Chris Christie sent a letter to President Barack Obama on Tuesday asking for a six-month extension on temporary housing assistance for Superstorm Sandy victims.

The letter includes a request that the federal government allow 49 families currently residing on Fort Monmouth to remain on the property or be provided with temporary housing trailers until Sept. 30. The displaced homeowners would otherwise have to leave Fort Monmouth by April 1, as would the 32 families residing in trailers throughout the region.

"While most Sandy-impacted residents have returned to stable homes in their communities, some of the most vulnerable families still have not been able to secure permanent housing despite best efforts to assist them," Christie said in a press release. "A six-month extension of temporary housing assistance would tremendously help these residents and provide them with more time to find longer term housing solutions."

At the peak of the Federal Emergency Management Agency's Temporary Housing Assistance program, 122 homeowners resided on Fort Monmouth and 85 in the trailers.