The New York State Association of Realtors® disbursed $4.38 million in mortgage and rent assistance to 708 families of those killed in the September 11 terrorist attacks including families of fire, law enforcement and other emergency personnel.

The funds were drawn from the Realtors® Housing Relief Fund, a national effort by Realtors® initiated to help ensure that the families of those killed in the September 11 attacks did not face the additional loss of their homes. The National Association of Realtors®, the New York State Association of Realtors® and Realtor® associations in other states affected by the attacks created the fund on September 15. In total, Realtors® disbursed $8.19 million to 1,223 families nationally during the fund's nearly three months of operation.

For more than 80 Realtor® volunteers, this became a personal mission to help their neighbors and fellow New York residents in need. In addition to reviewing applications, many of these volunteers personally delivered checks to the families, often in less than a week from receipt of the application. Still hundreds more worked to ensure those families in need were aware of the program and received relief fund applications.