Asbury Park Press, N.J., David P. Willis column

Nov. 16--Many stores and major thoroughfares are restored. Some families are back in their once-ravaged homes.

But for many, the struggles after superstorm Sandy continue. It's a tough, hard slog to come out of it in one piece.

On Saturday, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., the Asbury Park Press is holding Sandy Solutions, a free event, to help you get there. It will be at the newspaper's headquarters, 3601 Route 66 in Neptune.

So far, more than 250 Sandy survivors have registered to attend. Pre-registrations still are being accepted at app.com/sandysolutions or by calling 732-643-4269. What can you expect? One-on-one assistance and information. No speeches or podiums.

Sponsored by New Jersey Natural Gas, Statewide Custom Modular Homes, Manasquan Savings Bank, Ducky Johnson, Value City Furniture and Jersey Proud Modular Homes, more than 40 organizations and individuals have agreed to provide assistance.

They are housing, rebuilding and financial experts, lawyers, consumer protection enforcers, a public insurance adjuster and those who can help the homeless and hungry.

"We are gratified at the response from our co-presenters, our sponsors and, especially, from the community," said James Flachsenhaar, managing director of content and audience development at the Asbury Park Press.

Michael J. Schwartz, founder and president of Hometown Heroes, said many people, at least 26,000 in Ocean County alone, still are displaced from Sandy. His organization, which provides financial assistance, will attend to inform those in need of their services.

"If you take families, most of them are paying mortgages for homes that they still own and can't live in," Schwartz said. "They have tapped out their entire savings. Sometimes it might just be a utility bill to catch them up."

Ocean-Monmouth Legal Services is bringing a team of lawyers. Coastal Habitat for Humanity will be in attendance to help people fill out applications for home repairs. Representatives also will have information about the ReStore thrift shop that sells discounted appliances and furniture.

The Monmouth County Long Term Recovery Group and the Ocean County Long Term Recovery Group will be in attendance.

Having a problem with a contractor? The Monmouth County Superstorm Sandy Fraud Task Force, the Ocean County Department of Consumer Affairs, and the state Division of Consumer Affairs' office on consumer protection will have personnel there to help.

Anthony Falcone, a Tinton Falls certified public accountant, will be on hand to answer tax and financial questions.

Family Promise of Monmouth County's New Beginnings program, which provides assistance to homeless children and their families, will be there.

Staff will meet with people to assess their needs and provide information about organizations that can help.

"They don't know what organizations are out there to help them, what they need to say, who they need to speak to," said Ileana Hernandez, case manager. "They have never done it before."

Operation Hope's Hope Coalition America will help people recover their financial lives after Sandy. They are the ones who know the latest grants that are out there, can help with grant and insurance processing and can assist in communications with creditors, among other things.

"We set out with the client budget to see what their situation is and what they can do," said Sharron Greenberg, a volunteer representative.

Who else is coming? There's the Visiting Nurse Association of Central Jersey, the New Jersey Small Business Development Center, the Affordable Housing Alliance, University Behavioral HealthCare, Lunch Break, Foundation to Save the Jersey Shore, the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, Ignite 'n' Rise Sandy Relief, the American Heart Association, the Housing and Community Development Network of New Jersey, New Jersey Natural Gas, Hurricane Sandy Furniture Donations Community, United Policyholders, the Federal Emergency Management Agency, Monmouth Habitat for Humanity and Operation Jersey Shore Santa.

Hope to see you there.

Do you have a consumer problem that needs solving? Contact business writer David P. Willis, and he will try to help. 732-643-4042, pressonyourside@

njpressmedia.com or facebook.com/

dpwillis732.

___

(c)2013 the Asbury Park Press (Neptune, N.J.)

Visit the Asbury Park Press (Neptune, N.J.) at www.app.com

Distributed by MCT Information Services