Hochul Celebrates HCPO’s Procurement of $183 Million for Holocaust Victims

A shot of winter foliage along Route 60 in Fredonia, New York.Photo byPhoto by J.M. Lesinski

New York State Governor Kathy Hochul recently celebrated the return of roughly $183 million in compensation to Holocaust victims and their beneficiaries through the New York State Department of Financial Services’ Holocaust Claims Processing Office, which formally assists those victims in recovering stolen assets via a number of channels.

“With each passing year our living memory of the Holocaust may get further away, but it is imperative that we stand firm in our goal of dispelling antisemitism,” Hochul remarked of the return. “Hate has no home in New York – and my administration remains committed to uplifting Holocaust survivors and their families while continuing to honor the memory of the six million lives taken far too soon.”

A unit of the New York State Department of Financial Services, the Holocaust Claims Processing Office (HCPO) has responded to thousands of inquiries to them since its inception in 1997, receiving claims across all 50 states, 53 countries, and has successfully facilitated over 250 settlements involving cultural objects like looted artwork. 

"At DFS, we are committed to honoring survivors and delivering justice to those who suffered through the unspeakable horrors of the Holocaust,” stated Superintendent of Financial Services Adrienne A. Harris of the return. “The Department will continue working to return these invaluable cultural artifacts and facilitate the restitution of long-lost artworks for Holocaust victims and their families.”

The Holocaust Claims Processing Office does not incur charges on any claimants for the services they provide. To learn more about the HCPO, visit their website here.