PALMETTO, Fla. (WWSB) – Rebuilding Together Greater Florida is expanding its mission to help more families recover after devastating storm damage\u2014starting with a mobile home repair project launching Wednesday.<\/p>\n
For homeowner Peter Previte, the sounds of the work underway are a welcome relief. \u201cHearing the sounds of the work being done is almost like a symphony,\u201d Previte said.<\/p>\n
Mobile homes are often overlooked by funding, resources and assistance programs, despite being among the most vulnerable housing types during severe weather. Previte knows that reality firsthand.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhen you see damage it\u2019s devastating,\u201d he said. \u201cIt\u2019s truly devastating to come back and say \u2018OK, what do we do now?\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n
Construction manager DJ June says this first project focuses on critical repairs, including a new roof and a carport\u2014work that can be difficult for many homeowners to afford.<\/p>\n
\u201cHere we are today, our first one doing the roof and carport, and we\u2019re looking forward to hopefully doing many more,\u201d June said.<\/p>\n
Previte\u2019s home located in the Shadow Brook mobile home community in Palmetto, a community that suffered devastating damage to a large percentage of the mobile homes, with many owners unable to make repairs since the damage occurred. <\/p>\n
Previte called the help a lifeline. \u201cIt\u2019s expensive, and to have these people doing it is truly a miracle,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
June says the non-profit\u2019s expanded focus will go beyond storm recovery, helping address repairs tied to health, safety and mobility\u2014especially for residents who don\u2019t have the resources to make necessary improvements.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019ll also help with things other than storm damage\u2014things like health, safety, mobility,\u201d June said. \u201cFor those homeowners who maybe can\u2019t afford to do some of those things to their home that are needed, please call us. We can hopefully help with that too.\u201d<\/p>\n
Using this project as a model, Rebuilding Together Greater Florida says it\u2019s working to better support more homeowners living in manufactured housing\u2014while emphasizing quality over speed.<\/p>\n
\u201cOur goal is to make sure it\u2019s done right, not necessarily quickly,\u201d June said.<\/p>\n
Previte says the experience has been overwhelming in the best way. \u201cI can\u2019t thank these great people enough for what they\u2019re doing\u2014how they treated me, how they\u2019ve communicated with me,\u201d he said. \u201cIt was just an amazing process, and to be the first, it is truly amazing.\u201d<\/p>\n
By investing in these repairs, the organization says it\u2019s helping ensure more Florida families can live in safe, healthy homes\u2014and better withstand future storms.<\/p>\n
For homeowners interested in applying for assistance, they can learn more and submit an application through their website<\/a>.<\/p>\n If they have questions about eligibility or the application process, they can also call their team at (813) 614-2962.<\/p>\n Their Sarasota office is located at: 1760 Mound St., 2nd Floor Sarasota, FL 34236<\/p>\n