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CLEARWATER, Fla. — Pinellas County will launch its People First programs next week which will prioritize vulnerable residents with lower incomes who have been struggling to recover from last year’s hurricanes.
“if you qualify we want to get money in your hands,” said Brian Scott, Pinellas County Commission Chair. “This is going to be a huge economic lift for this county.”
The programs have been funded by the largest federal storm recovery grant awarded to any local government in Florida in the aftermath of Hurricanes Helene and Milton, according to Pinellas County. A total of $813 million in Community Development Block Grant Disaster Recovery funds from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. The HUD grant also applies to damage from Hurricane Idalia in 2023.
“I really think the program for mobile homes, I think that’s really going to be impactful,” said Scott. “So if you live in a mobile home community and you are affected highly, highly encourage you to apply.”
The first two programs residents will see benefits from are Disaster Relief Reimbursement and Homeowner Reimbursement. Residents earning 80 percent of the area medium income can get up to $15,000 in storm related expenses in the Disaster Relief Reimbursement program.
“If they were paying a mortgage and also rent at the same time, if they had utility expenses, things that were not covered by any other form, FEMA, insurance, anything,” said Matthew Spoor, Pinellas County Assistant Administrator. “We know a lot of low to moderate income individuals, especially in our barrier island communities, lost their jobs, didn’t have jobs for a while. So those things would be covered up to $15,000.”
Residents earning 120 percent of the AMI can get up to $50,000 for code-compliant repairs already completed in the Homeowner Reimbursement Program.
The next two programs to come online are Homeowner Rehabilitation/Reconstruction and Local Landlord program. Owners who qualify can get up to $375,000 to completely replace their home or rental property. Landlords must agree to rent income-qualified tenants.
“For repairs or rehabilitation that have not occurred on the property,” said Spoor. “That could include up to replacing the home.”
The last program will be Homebuyer Assistance, which will provide up to $80,000 for closing costs to purchase a safer home outside flood zones for income eligible residents. The HUD grant calls for 70 percent of the money to be spent on residents with low to moderate incomes. One person earning $58,450 per year qualifies as 80 percent AMI, while another person earning $87,600 qualifies as 120 percent AMI.
“Once we can prove that we’ve satisfied an unmet need in those particular income brackets,” said Scott. ”Then we can apply for waivers because that may not fit everybody.”
Scott said Pinellas County stood up the program quickly and he hopes they can cut checks to residents by Christmas.
“We did this in lightning speed as well. I’ve really got to take hats off to staff and my fellow commissioners,” he said. “If you look down south of us, in Lee County, it took them almost two years to get money in the people’s hands. And we’re doing this in just over a year.”
The People First program is not available to St. Petersburg residents because the city will soon launch its own program called Sunrise St. Pete. All other residents in Pinellas County can begin applying on Oct. 20 at recover.pinellas.gov or by calling 727-606-3307.
Residents can meet with case managers at 2600 McCormick Dr., suite 100 in Clearwater or 5000 Park St., suite 4 in St. Petersburg. Case managers will also be visiting community centers and other locations countywide at pop-up sites in the coming months to help residents apply for the programs.
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Josh Rojas
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