TAMPA, Fla. \u2014 Nearly two years after hurricanes Helene and Milton damaged homes across Hillsborough County, some homeowners are still waiting to rebuild.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
One of those applicants is 77-year-old Rosa Wooden.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
“See that tarp over there? My son had to come and put it up for me,” she said.<\/p>\n
The tarps have become the only barrier protecting her belongings from repeated rainstorms.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
“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.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
“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.<\/p>\n
Wooden says she applied for Hillsborough County’s Rebuilding for Tomorrow program in May but has not yet learned whether she will receive assistance.<\/p>\n
“I’m just waiting. I don’t know what they’re going to do,” she said.<\/p>\n
Hillsborough County Human Services supervisor Mirla Cabrera says applications vary significantly, which affects how quickly they can be reviewed.<\/p>\n
“Some people are applying for reimbursement, some people are applying for a reconstruction of the home,” Cabrera said.<\/p>\n
To help residents navigate the process, the county has expanded pop-up service centers where applicants can ask questions and receive updates.<\/p>\n
“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.<\/p>\n
For Wooden, leaving her home isn’t an option.<\/p>\n
“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.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n