Safeguard Properties

<- Return To Featured Resources

HUD Releases Two Year Progress Report on Sandy Rebuilding Strategy

On October 29, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) issued a news release presenting a report on the progress of the Sandy Rebuilding Strategy, released by HUD’s Sandy Program Management Office (PMO).

HUD No. 14-134
George Gonzalez
(703) 638-4624

HUD RELEASES TWO YEAR PROGRESS REPORT ON  SANDY REBUILDING STRATEGY
Report Tracks Progress on Recommendations of Sandy Task Force

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development’s (HUD) Sandy Program Management Office (PMO) today issued a report tracking progress on the Sandy Rebuilding Strategy.  The report is now available online.

“Much work remains to be done, but HUD is committed to providing communities with the necessary assistance to keep helping homeowners and businesses move forward, and to ensure a complete recovery,” said HUD Secretary, Julián Castro.  “Through our Sandy Recovery Office, and our leadership role on Rebuild by Design, we continue to maintain a strong regional presence, and will continue to work with grantees and interagency partners to build more resilient communities.”

The Rebuilding Strategy, released by the Hurricane Sandy Rebuilding Task Force in August 2013, includes a long-term plan that guides Sandy Supplemental spending, drives regional coordination, and makes communities more resilient to future disasters.

Today’s report tracks progress on seven goals that are important to the long-term rebuilding of the region in the most economically efficient, ecologically robust and innovative ways possible.

In addition to progress on these critical policy recommendations, the Administration has provided assistance to nearly 300,000 persons/households and small businesses, marking a 33% increase from last year.  Further, including the National Flood Insurance Program, the Administration has made more than $30.1 billion available to grantees, representing a 53% increase from last year.

Promoting Resilient Rebuilding through Innovative Ideas and a Thorough Understanding of Current and Future Risk

  • Sea Level Rise Tool:  FEMA, CEQ, the USGCRP, NOAA, and USACE worked together to create a Sea Level Rise interactive web-based map and a sea-level rise calculator with localized data that allows citizens and planners to assess risk up to 100 years in the future.

Ensuring a Regionally Coordinated, Resilient Approach to Infrastructure Investment

  • Build America Transportation Investment Center at the Department of Transportation:  The Center will serve as a one-stop shop for state and local governments, public and private developers and investors seeking to utilize innovative financing strategies for transportation infrastructure projects.

Restoring and Strengthening Homes and Providing Families with Safe, Affordable Housing Options

  • Community Development Financial Index:  The CDFI Index assists help State and local housing programs to identify opportunities to leverage funds and develop public-private partnerships by providing a comprehensive list of certified, proven lenders that offer financial  assistance, technical assistance and training, and that already engage in housing or small business lending.

Supporting Small Businesses and Revitalizing Local Economies

  • SBA HUBZone: SBA has proposed statutory changes to HUBZone so they can better target hundreds of small, disadvantaged businesses competing in the marketplace and improve access to federal procurement opportunities for Hurricane Sandy rebuilding.

Addressing Insurance Challenges, Understanding, and Affordability

  • Flood Insurance Advocate:  FEMA is in the process of creating a Flood Insurance Advocate position who will educate property owners about flood risks, flood mitigation, and ways to reduce flood insurance rates.

Building State and Local Capacity to Plan for and Implement Long-Term Recovery and Rebuilding

  • FEMA’s Community Planning and Capacity Building Office Partnered with the Council on Foundations:  This partnership is building capacities for New York and New Jersey to leverage philanthropic and non-profit funding collaboratives, allowing the states more ability to fill resource gaps to support sustained recovery efforts.

Improving Data Sharing Between Federal, State, and Local Officials

  • Sandy Program Management Office:  The PMO provides transparency for the public on the progress of recovery, and accountability for federal agency partners, by providing detailed information on the progress of the supplemental funding, and quarterly reports on the implementation of the Rebuilding Strategy recommendations.  You can find more here.

In total, the Rebuilding Strategy identified 69 specific recommendations across these broad goals as well as specific agencies to lead the implementation of each of them.  Since the publication of the Rebuilding Strategy, the Obama Administration has continued working across departments to move the recommendations forward and deliver on their commitments to the region.

###

Please click here to view the Sandy Recovery Progress report online.

Please click here to view the news release online.

About Safeguard 
Safeguard Properties is the largest mortgage field services company in the U.S. Founded in 1990 by Robert Klein and based in Valley View, Ohio, the company inspects and maintains defaulted and foreclosed properties for mortgage servicers, lenders, and other financial institutions. Safeguard employs approximately 1,700 people, in addition to a network of thousands of contractors nationally.
Website: www.safeguardproperties.com.

Related Posts

HUD Allocates More than $2 Billion to Advance Equitable Disaster Recovery, Build Climate Change Resilience

The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development today announced the allocation of more than $2 billion ($2,040,617,000) in CDBG-Disaster Recovery and CDBG-Mitigation funds appropriated in the continuing resolution, the Extending Government Funding and Delivering Emergency Assistance Act, signed into law on September 30, 2021.

Read More

HUD Employees Receive Management Excellence Award

A group of U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development employees on Thursday were awarded the 2021 Samuel J. Heyman Service to America Medals.

Read More

<- Back To Newsroom Next Article ->

Cookies enable us to provide the best experience possible and help us understand how visitors use our website. By browsing our website, you agree to our use of cookies.

x

CEO

Alan Jaffa

Alan Jaffa is the Chief Executive Officer for Safeguard Properties, steering the company as the mortgage field services industry leader. He also serves on the board of advisors for SCG Partners, a middle-market private equity fund focused on diversifying and expanding Safeguard Properties’ business model into complimentary markets.

Alan joined Safeguard in 1995, learning the business from the ground up. He was promoted to Chief Operating Officer in 2002, and was named CEO in May 2010. His hands-on experience has given him unique insights as a leader to innovate, improve and strengthen Safeguard’s processes to assure that the company adheres to the highest standards of quality and customer service.

Under Alan’s leadership, Safeguard has grown significantly with strategies that have included new and expanded services, technology investments that deliver higher quality and greater efficiency to clients, and strategic acquisitions. He takes a team approach to process improvement, involving staff at all levels of the organization to address issues, brainstorm solutions, and identify new and better ways to serve clients.

In 2008, Alan was recognized by Crain’s Cleveland Business in its annual “40-Under-40” profile of young leaders. He also was named a NEO Ernst & Young Entrepreneur Of The Year® Award finalist in 2013.

x

Esq., General Counsel and EVP

Linda Erkkila

Linda Erkkila is the General Counsel and Executive Vice President for Safeguard Properties, with oversight of legal, human resources, training, and compliance. Linda’s broad scope of oversight covers regulatory issues that impact Safeguard’s operations, risk mitigation, strategic planning, human resources and training initiatives, compliance, insurance, litigation and claims management, and counsel related to mergers, acquisition and joint ventures.

Linda assures that Safeguard’s strategic initiatives align with its resources, leverage opportunities across the company, and contemplate compliance mandates. She has practiced law for 25 years and her experience, both as outside and in-house counsel, covers a wide range of corporate matters, including regulatory disclosure, corporate governance compliance, risk assessment, compensation and benefits, litigation management, and mergers and acquisitions.

Linda earned her JD at Cleveland-Marshall College of Law. She holds a degree in economics from Miami University and an MBA. Linda was previously named as both a “Woman of Influence” by HousingWire and as a “Leading Lady” by MReport.

x

COO

Michael Greenbaum

Michael Greenbaum is the Chief Operating Officer of Safeguard Properties, where he has played a pivotal role since joining the company in July 2010. Initially brought on as Vice President of REO, Mike’s exceptional leadership and strategic vision quickly propelled him to Vice President of Operations in 2013, and ultimately to COO in 2015. Over his 14-year tenure at Safeguard, Mike has been instrumental in driving change and fostering innovation within the Property Preservation sector, consistently delivering excellence and becoming a trusted partner to clients and investors.

A distinguished graduate of the United States Military Academy at West Point, Mike earned a degree in Quantitative Economics. Following his graduation, he served in the U.S. Army’s Ordnance Branch, where he specialized in supply chain management. Before his tenure at Safeguard, Mike honed his expertise by managing global supply chains for 13 years, leveraging his military and civilian experience to lead with precision and efficacy.

x

CFO

Joe Iafigliola

Joe Iafigliola is the Chief Financial Officer for Safeguard Properties. Joe is responsible for the Control, Quality Assurance, Business Development, Marketing, Accounting, and Information Security departments. At the core of his responsibilities is the drive to ensure that Safeguard’s focus remains rooted in Customer Service = Resolution. Through his executive leadership role, he actively supports SGPNOW.com, an on-demand service geared towards real estate and property management professionals as well as individual home owners in need of inspection and property preservation services. Joe is also an integral force behind Compliance Connections, a branch of Safeguard Properties that allows code enforcement professionals to report violations at properties that can then be addressed by the Safeguard vendor network. Compliance Connections also researches and shares vacant property ordinance information with Safeguard clients.

Joe has an MBA from The Weatherhead School of Management at Case Western Reserve University, is a Certified Management Accountant (CMA), and holds a bachelor’s degree from The Ohio State University’s Honors Accounting program.

x

Business Development

Carrie Tackett

Business Development Safeguard Properties