TAMPA, Fla. — More than a year after the 2024 hurricane season, many homeowners in Hillsborough County are still living with damage — and in some cases, unsafe conditions.

Now, more than $200 million in relief funding is available through the county’s Rebuilding for Tomorrow Homeowner Repair and Reconstruction Program, aimed at helping residents repair, rebuild or recover costs.

The Rebuilding for Tomorrow program offers three types of assistance:

Reimbursement: $10,000 to $50,000 for completed repairs
Rehabilitation: Up to $150,000 for remaining damage
Reconstruction: Up to $350,000 to rebuild homes

“If homeowners have already fixed damages due to the storm. They’re eligible (for) up to $10 (thousand) to $50,000 of reimbursement for the rehab,” said Hillsborough County Social Services Manager Angela Medero.

Eligibility is based on income, with priority given to lower-income households.

“For this particular program, it’s up to 120% (area median income), and we are prioritizing the 80% AMI,” said Medero.

Hundreds of homeowners have already applied, but thousands more are expected to qualify.

For Angela Jenkins, the damage left behind by hurricanes Helene and Milton hasn’t gone away, and she is hoping for peace of mind through the program.

“The actual water level, when we came back home, you could see where it had stopped it because of the sand and stuff,” said Jenkins.

Mold has become a serious issue, affecting not just her home but her health.

“It does. It does have a smell to it. And it does, like, mess with your immune system,” she said.

She has already spent $75,000 out of pocket but says the home is still not livable.

“You want to be able to come into your house and have peace,” said Jenkins.

County leaders say the program is designed to avoid the confusion and delays seen in past recovery efforts by offering direct support.

“The application does require insurance information and information that isn’t necessarily always readily available for the homeowner. So what we’re doing is you’re assigned a case manager. That case manager is working directly with the homeowner, making sure that it’s not just a quick eligibility determination,” said Medero.

Applicants can get help from case managers, in-person service centers, and a call center to complete the process.

How to Apply

Applications are now open. Officials urge residents not to wait, as demand for funding is expected to be high.

To help with the process, the Rebuilding for Tomorrow Service Center is open at 1029 E. Hillsborough Ave. in Tampa. Hours are 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Friday, and 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturdays.

The center is expected to remain open for at least several months.

Several pop-up service centers also will be open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday:

Lee Davis Community Resource Center, 3402 N. 22nd St., Tampa, FL 33605
Plant City Community Resource Center, 307 N. Michigan Ave., Plant City, FL 33566
University Community Resource Center, 13605 N. 22nd St., Tampa, FL 33613
West Tampa Community Resource Center, 2103 N. Rome Ave., Tampa, FL 33607

Hillsborough County also has opened a call center to help with the application process.

Residents can call (813) 540-7767 Monday through Friday from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. and Saturdays from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.