Largo resident celebrates first home rebuilt through Pinellas Recovers
Melissa Arledge had been through so much hardship for so long that once help came, she couldn’t believe how quickly it all happened.
Almost two years ago, Hurricane Milton’s fierce winds and soaking rains had nearly ruined her longtime home in Largo.
Once approved for help through Pinellas Recovers, it was only a few months before she walked through the door of her new home.
Today she joined Pinellas leaders to celebrate a new beginning in her finished home, the first of many being completely replaced through the County’s hurricane recovery program.
“I wake up in the mornings and actually look out the window because it’s like I’m in someone else’s home until I see, oh, it’s on my property. It must be mine!” Arledge said.
“This has been the best, best blessing that I could have ever received.”
More than 1,000 households have been approved so far for a range of assistance through the multimillion-dollar federal recovery program.
“Today we’re here to celebrate the resilience of Pinellas County’s people,” said Pinellas County Commissioner Brian Scott.
“Residents like Melissa can attest that persevering through the recovery process isn’t easy, but the patience truly does pay off.”
Commissioner Scott was joined by fellow Commissioners Chris Latvala and Rene Flowers, County Administrator Barry A. Burton, Largo City Commissioner Michael DiBrizzi and City Manager John Curp at a ribbon cutting to celebrate completion of the new home.
Construction is underway now on dozens of new homes – both single-family and mobile homes – across Pinellas County.
The County’s Pinellas Recovers People First programs use the Community Development Block Grant Disaster Recovery fund to repair or replace homes damaged during 2023-2024 hurricane seasons.
The Home Rehabilitation/Reconstruction program provides up to $375,000 in construction costs for unrepaired storm damages to bring existing homes up to code or replace them in some cases.
The County also continues to accept applications for a Homeowner Reimbursement program for work already completed and a Local Landlord program, which allows residential property owners an opportunity to fix or replace damaged units with a 5-year agreement to rent them at affordable rates.
The Pinellas Recovers program is available to residents throughout the county, except for the City of St. Petersburg, which received its own disaster recovery grant.
The online application, along with information on income qualifications and required documents, is available at recover.pinellas.gov.
You can also apply in-person Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. – 5 p.m. at:
- 2600 McCormick Drive, Suite 100, Clearwater
- 5000 Park Street, Suite 4, St. Petersburg
Case managers can also be reached at 727-606-3307 during the same hours.
A majority of the County’s federal grant is committed to the People First programs, but additional help for small businesses and nonprofits, as well as investments in local infrastructure, will be announced at a future date.