TRENTON — State Assemblywoman Linda Stender (D-Union) tonight acknowledged that her husband got help from a non-profit group that assists low-income homeowners in demolishing a shore home severely damaged by Hurricane Sandy that records show had been purchased for nearly a half-million dollars.
The owner of the Manasquan home — identified in public records as Richard Stender, the assemblywoman's husband — applied to Monmouth County-based Coastal Habitat for Humanity for help, said Maureen Mulligan, the group's executive director.
Stender, who declined to be interviewed, confirmed that in a statement to NJ Advance Media.
"Like many others, our family suffered significant losses as a result of Hurricane Sandy," Stender said. "An application was made to Coastal Habitat for Humanity to assist in rebuilding. There are outstanding issues which are the subject of continued efforts to resolve."
Although Habitat for Humanity groups traditionally provide financial and labor aid to low-income homeowners who are unable to get normal financing, Mulligan said that after Sandy struck, her group broadened who was eligible, from households making 30 to 50 percent of Monmouth County's median income of $84,526, to those making up to 80 percent of that.
"I can't share the family's information with anybody. But what I can share with you is that (the homeowner) applied for our assistance and that we did indeed demolish their house, which was determined by FEMA and their insurance company to be damaged at least 51 percent," Mulligan said. "So it was cheaper, according to FEMA, to demolish it and then rebuild the house."
Stender's legislative financial disclosure forms show that she and her husband had a combined income higher than the median in Monmouth County for 2012 and 2013. According to the filings, Richard Stender made at least $50,000 in each of those years from the printing company he owns, while Stender's annual Assembly salary is $49,000. Stender also reported receiving income of less than $10,000 from a company called Medifict and the Fanwood/Scotch Plains YMCA.
Though the house was only 640 square feet, public records available on Monmouth County's website show Richard Stender purchased it in 2008 for $465,000. Linda Stender's name is not on the deed, but in 2011 she co-signed a $35,000 mortgage with him for the home that was canceled in 2014, according to the records.
No home has been built on the now-vacant site, Mulligan said. She said that her organization hires contractors like electricians, plumbers, roofers and other specialists to construct a home, along with volunteer labor to help "build it out." The group then tallies all of the costs incurred and puts it into a mortgage that it holds until it is paid back by the homeowner, who is expected to help with labor.
"Every homeowner that needs to have their house demolished has to sit down with us and go through the actual figures of what it's going to cost, and they have to sign a promissory note with us," she said. "And the promissory note states that once we demo the house, that's step one in the process, and we will not move on until the next step until the promissory note is paid off."
The Manasquan home, according to Stender's financial disclosure, is the only property her husband owns, while none appear in her name. The possible public backlash over the development concerned her enough to assure her fellow Union County lawmakers that she does, indeed, live in the district she represents — a requirement under the state Constitution.
Stender on Wednesday night hastily called a meeting with the two other lawmakers from her district — Assemblyman Jerry Green and state Sen. Nicholas Scutari (both D-Union) — to explain the situation, Green said.
"She basically said that her husband bought a home down the shore. And because her mom is like 90 years old, she decided to move in with her mom (in Scotch Plains)," Green said. "The Scotch Plains address is her permanent home, and the shore home is her husband's permanent home."
Added Green: "All I can do at this point is hope that things work out for her. But her statement is one piece of the puzzle. I'm curious what the non-profit organization has to say."
Scutari did not return a phone call seeking comment.
Homeowners seeking help from Coastal Habitat for Humanity have to certify that it is their primary residence, Mulligan said.
In 2013, the last time Stender ran for reelection, she registered her candidacy from a Scotch Plains address.
Stender was hired this month by the Union County improvement Authority with salary of $90,000.
NJ Advance Media reporter Christopher Baxter contributed to this report.
Matt Friedman may be reached at mfriedman@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @MattFriedmanSL. Find NJ.com on Facebook.
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