CLEARWATER, FLORIDA – OCTOBER 10: Cars are flooded in an apartment complex after the arrival of Hurricane Milton on October 10, 2024 in Clearwater, Florida. Milton, which comes just after the recent catastrophic Hurricane Helene, landed into Florida’s Gulf Coast late Wednesday evening as a Category 3 storm causing extensive flooding and damage. (Photo by Spencer Platt/Getty Images)
Pinellas Recovers will have five new programs under its People First Hurricane Recovery Program. The program received $813 million to help vulnerable homeowners and renters after last year’s hurricane season.
There will be five programs that will include homeowner rehabilitation and construction, homeowner reimbursement, a local landlord program, homebuyer assistance and disaster relief reimbursement.
The Programs
The disaster relief payments will be 80% area median income (AMI). This will help with those who lost their job, paid rent, paid utilities and had other impacts up to $15,000 in disaster relief.
Reimbursement payments that are up to 120% AMI and that will. This is for individuals who have done repairs on their homes up to $50,000.
“There will be a duplication of benefit review for every applicant. We will review with the applicant other funding sources they received and that will play a role in the dollar amount they will receive from HUD and Pinellas County,” said the Assistant County Administrator Matt Spoor.
Homeowner repair and rehabilitation and local landlord repair and rehabilitation, will have up to $375,000 to help with repairs or rehabilitation that have not occurred on the property, and that can include replacing the home.
The homeowner downpayment assistant repayment will have up to $80,000 to help with the homeowner assistant for any applicant purchasing a home.
How to Apply
Residents can apply online, call 727-606-3307 and or meet with case workers in person.
Pinellas County Commission Chair Brian Scott said this program is designed to be easy.
Case workers will be at 2600 McCormick Dr., Suite 100 in Clearwater and at 500 Parker St., Suite 4 in St.Petersburg.
Every Tuesday and Thursday, case workers will be hosting pop-up sites in the coming months. To find dates and locations text RECOVER to 888777 to receive updates.
”I would take your substantial damage letter, gather all your receipts for temporary repairs, any documentation for out-of-pocket expenses such as rent, any estimates for repairs, and proof of ownership of your home, proof of its homesteaded status, and income verification,” Scott said.
Once you submit your application, the anticipated wait time is 60 to 90 days.
Applications open October 20 and is available to all Pinellas residents except residents in St. Petersburg, who will have their own program.