TAMPA, Fla. — Nearly two years after hurricanes Helene and Milton damaged homes across Hillsborough County, some homeowners are still waiting to rebuild.
The county’s Rebuilding for Tomorrow program launched in April with more than $200 million in federal disaster recovery funding to help eligible homeowners repair or rebuild storm-damaged homes. While applications continue to be processed, some residents say the wait has been difficult.
One of those applicants is 77-year-old Rosa Wooden.
Living on Social Security, Wooden says the home she’s lived in for 49 years remains covered with tarps while she waits to learn whether she’ll receive assistance.
“See that tarp over there? My son had to come and put it up for me,” she said.
The tarps have become the only barrier protecting her belongings from repeated rainstorms.
Wooden says the home has endured more than just storm damage. Five years ago, she lost both her daughter and her husband within months of each other.
“Well, five years ago, it was sort of rough. My baby died on April 16, and five months later my husband passed away in September. After that, I had to start doing everything by myself,” she said.
More recently, heavy rain kept her from attending her brother’s funeral because water was entering her home. Inside, sections of the ceiling have collapsed.
“It’s raining in the bedroom, so I had to stay over the weekend. I couldn’t go because I was dealing with the flooding at my house,” she said.
Wooden says she applied for Hillsborough County’s Rebuilding for Tomorrow program in May but has not yet learned whether she will receive assistance.
“I’m just waiting. I don’t know what they’re going to do,” she said.
Hillsborough County Human Services supervisor Mirla Cabrera says applications vary significantly, which affects how quickly they can be reviewed.
“Some people are applying for reimbursement, some people are applying for a reconstruction of the home,” Cabrera said.
To help residents navigate the process, the county has expanded pop-up service centers where applicants can ask questions and receive updates.
“I will say the case managers have been doing great work keeping the customers up to date and making sure they know the process,” Cabrera said.
For Wooden, leaving her home isn’t an option.
“You know, a lot of people say, ‘Why don’t you just move out?’ I don’t want to leave because it’s my home,” Wooden said.
County officials say approximately 1,500 homeowners have applied for assistance through the Rebuilding for Tomorrow program and that funding remains available for about 1,300 additional eligible applicants.
Homeowners can learn more about eligibility requirements, upcoming application events and program updates through Hillsborough County’s Rebuilding for Tomorrow