$910 Million Available for Hurricane Ian Recovery
State leaders said funding for hurricane-damaged homes, new workforce housing, and infrastructure repairs and upgrades can help dozens of Florida counties.
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – FloridaCommerce announced more than $910 million in funding is available for Hurricane-Ian impacted Floridians with a priority on severely impacted communities and vulnerable low-income residents.
The funds, available through four Rebuild Florida programs, are aimed at creating safe and sanitary homes, creating new affordable workforce housing and shoring up infrastructure programs following the 2022 hurricane. Eligible counties include Brevard, Charlotte, Collier, DeSoto, Flagler, Glades, Hardee, Hendry, Highlands, Hillsborough, Lake, Manatee, Monroe, Okeechobee, Osceola, Pinellas, Polk, Putnam, Seminole and St. Johns.
FloridaCommerce leaders said they determined the funding that was previously available was not enough to meet need.
“Thanks to the detailed feedback we received from over 40 meetings in all 24 impacted counties, four of which received their own direct federal allocations, Florida has prioritized housing for our neediest citizens and hazard mitigation infrastructure grants to support impacted communities following the devastation caused by Hurricane Ian,” said Florida Secretary of Commerce J. Alex Kelly. “I encourage Floridians to utilize these long-term recovery and disaster mitigation funds to rebuild and make their communities more resilient than ever before.”
In the past months, four counties – Lee, Orange, Sarasota and Volusia – received direct federal allocations and have submitted action plans to HUD for separate review. Lee County will receive more than $1.1 billion, Volusia County will receive more than $328 million for disaster recovery and mitigation efforts, Orange County will receive more than $219 million and Sarasota County will receive more than $201 million.
Funding for home repairs
Through the Rebuild Florida Housing Repair and Replacement Program for Hurricane Ian Recovery (HRRP), eligible homeowners can receive funding to repair or replace Hurricane-Ian damaged homes, including mobile homes. The program is funded with $542 million. Eligible households must fit specific criteria and are priorities and processed in the order applications are completed:
- Households with seniors aged 62 and above
- Households with children under the age of 18
- Households with special needs or special accommodation requirements
Eligible individuals are encouraged to apply for the program by visiting Ian.RebuildFlorida.gov.
In addition, Florida homeowners impacted by Hurricane Irma in 2017 and Ian can apply for funding through the Rebuild Florida Hurricane Ian Multiple Impact Program (MIP). At-risk and vulnerable populations with the greatest needs will be prioritized.
Funding for workforce housing
FloridaCommerce, in partnership with the Florida Housing Finance Corporation (FHFC), also launched the Rebuild Florida Workforce Affordable Housing Construction Program to provide $100 million for the construction of new affordable workforce housing for high-quality, resilient and affordable housing units in Hurricane-Ian impacted areas. FHFC will launch a competitive application cycle housing developers and public housing authorities with experience in the development and management of rental properties to apply for funding.
Funding for infrastructure
The $82 million Rebuild Florida Hazard Mitigation Grant Match Program for Hurricane Ian Recovery (HMGMP) will help construct, rehabilitate and harden critical infrastructure to support recovery efforts in communities impacted by Hurricane Ian, prioritizing rural communities. Eligible entities must have previously been awarded HMGP funding through the Florida Department of Emergency Management, which requires a local match of 25%.
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