Tampa will allocate $3.2 million to support Hurricane Helen and Hurricane Milton victims. The city council unanimously approved these funds. This will help income-qualified households with up to $20,000 in mortgage assistance, home repairs and insurance deductions.
According to a report by the Tampa Business Journal, funding is aimed at families earning less than 140% of their regional median income (AMI). Specifically, those who earn 30% below AMI, those who earn 30% below AMI, those who earn 80% below AMI, and those who earn 140% of AMI, will be eligible for an annual income of between $33,450 and $93,660. 30% of people will participate.
Tampa’s development and economic opportunity manager Abbye Feeley aims to open an application portal by March 15th with a solid deadline of April 1st.
Councillor Luis Viera highlighted the need for ongoing support for residents, particularly in North Tampa, which suffered from severe flooding. He highlighted the time it took to secure the funds, saying, “It took me 125 days to secure $3 million. If I’m a little emotional about it, I have a cause.”
Viera and county commissioner Harry Cohen held a press conference to discuss recovery efforts to highlight the struggles of residents who are paying both mortgages and rent while waiting for repairs. .
Feely noted that conversations with residents underscore the need for funding to alleviate some burdens. But Congressman Bill Carlson argued that $3 million is not enough and said, “Even if we renovate the house, the flood will come back. We need to fix the underlying issue.”
Hillsboro County is currently conducting independent analysis to assess preparations for future storms. Company Black & Veatch evaluates the impact of Hurricanes Helene and Milton to identify potential improvements in future disaster response.
