PINELLAS COUNTY, Fla. — $20 million in federal hurricane recovery funding is available in Pinellas County. Some eligible homeowners struggling to find affordable housing have already started getting help, and Pinellas County is encouraging people to apply.
The Homebuyer Assistance Program is part of the county’s “People First” hurricane recovery efforts. It’s meant to give people a real chance at starting over after the devastating 2024 hurricane season. Eligible families can get up to $80,000 towards a new home.
Kesha Simon heads Pinellas County’s assistance program efforts. She said applicants can apply for forgivable loans.
“As long as you meet the program requirements, and you continue to meet the program requirements after 5 years, it’s completely forgiven,” she said.
A household must make at or below 120% of the area median income. For example, a single person cannot make more than $87,600, and a family of four cannot make more than $125,000. Simon told lenders Thursday their clients can only purchase homes in Pinellas County, except St. Pete and not in a flood zone.
“Homebuyers are having a hard qualifying because the cost of living is not keeping up with wages in the area, so as a result, getting $80,000 is going to help tremendously in terms of qualifying for the home you want to live in,” Grant Lee, CMG Home Loan Branch Manager, said.
This assistance program is open to anyone who lived in Pinellas County, except for St. Pete during hurricanes Idalia, Helene and Milton. You don’t have to be directly impacted by those storms, but officials say anyone who experienced loss during that time would receive priority over others.