PINELLAS COUNTY, Fla. — Pinellas County homeowners affected hurricanes Helene and Milton have a new place to turn for help. The Homeless Empowerment Program is offering storm recovery housing assistance.

What You Need To Know

Storm recovery housing assistance being offered by Homeless Empowerment Program (HEP)

HEP says qualified applicants will receive financial literacy courses and be assigned an HEP housing navigator

To learn if you qualify, contact HEP at HurricaneRelief@HEPempowers.org or call: (727) 442-9041 extension 167

“It’s $100,000 that goes towards anyone who is trying to recover from storm damage, is displaced because of the storm, maybe needs rental assistance or deposit assistance,” said Tawny Swain Castle, vice president of clinical services with HEP.

A donor remaining anonymous multiplied that relief amount.

“They matched another $100,000 on top of that, so we have $200,000,” Swain Castle said. “We were going to serve 25 people, and now we can serve 50 people.”

United States Air Force veteran Troy Corbin was one of the first recipients.

“I’m very grateful for that,” said Corbin, whose Largo home was damaged during the storms last year.

“I had the ceiling collapse, unfortunately, but I fixed that,” said Corbin.

From roof and fence damage to a screen porch blown in, Corbin has already completed some repairs. But he said there are thousands of dollars left in projects to finish and limited funds to do them.

“See how bad it is, it won’t open. It’s warped,” Corbin said, showing us the door to his garage that houses a piece of history.

“This is a US Army 1953 M37 cargo truck from the Korean War,” said Corbin, who is also part of the Florida Military Vehicle Preservation Association.

Repairs made at his home will help get him one step closer to finishing projects to protect his personal property and preserve a piece of history, all while preparing for future storms.

“I’m very thankful that this money is coming,” said Corbin.

Maximum individual distribution amounts are $4,000.

HEP says qualified applicants will receive financial literacy courses and be assigned an HEP housing navigator, who will follow-up to see how things are going with repairs, offer resources and answer questions.

“We really want to embrace the community,” said Swain Castle. “We watched the trauma from the storms last year, and it really means a lot for us to be able to help those in the community.”

To learn if you qualify, contact HEP at HurricaneRelief@HEPempowers.org or call: (727) 442-9041 extension 167.