EASTON, Pa. – It’s been exactly two weeks since the massive fire at the Hotel Hampton in Easton. Several people were injured, including a firefighter. Dozens of residents were displaced and nearby businesses were damaged.
Help continues to come in for the people and businesses affected. Now, residents will have another place to go for at least 30 more days, as the Red Cross prepares to close its temporary shelter.
The U.S. Small Business Administration has also declared a disaster for the fire zone.
“SBA’s disaster recovery is able to provide low interest loans that helps the whole community recover because it’s renters, it’s homeowners, its businesses, it’s private nonprofits, and all together that make a community whole. And we’re here to help that happen,” said Debbie Jakala, a public affairs specialist with the SBA’s Office of Disaster Recovery and Resilience.
For residents, this includes any tangible items in their home.
“Anything that you physically owned is eligible up for that $100,000 loan,” Jakala says. “After it’s approved and the first payment of the loan is given to the recipient, they do not make any kind of interest payment or payment of the loan for the first 12 months.”
Businesses and nonprofits could receive up to $2 million in assistance, while homeowners may qualify for up to $500,000 to repair their primary residence.
SBA officials are opening a disaster loan outreach center Saturday at Easton City Hall, that will be open through March 21st.
“The specialists that will be on site will literally be able to sit down with someone and help them with their application process. If they would like assistance with that,” Jakala says.
Local leaders are also working to ensure displaced residents continue to have a place to stay.
“We’re here finalizing the details to give these individuals who have already suffered so much another shelter for 30 days. The goal is for Sunday the 8th, when they leave Northampton Community College and they’ll come here,” Easton City Councilman Frank Pintabone says.
Pintabone says the new shelter at Christ United Methodist Church will be able to accommodate around 22 people.
“So, they’re going to have food and a warm place to stay and congregate,” Pintabone says. “We don’t want to put any of our residents on the street.”
City nonprofits, churches like CUMC and Greater Shiloh Church, and volunteers are all stepping in to help those impacted get back on their feet.
“This is a great city. We’re all going to come together and lift you back up and do what we can to get you back to where you were.,” Pintabone added.
Pintabone says more than 200 people have donated to the United Way’s fund to help those victims.
The Disaster Loan Outreach Center at City Hall will open Thursday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. and will remain open Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.