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Pinellas homeowners can get up to $30,000 for hurricane repairs

Residents can also be notified about new programs by texting “RECOVER” to 888777

  • Income eligibility requirements apply. Residents must provide insurance info and FEMA award/denial letter before consideration. 
  • Deadline to apply to FEMA is Jan. 7, 2025. 
  • Residents encouraged to sign up for text alerts for new financial assistance programs. 

Homeowners struggling to make up the cost difference between repairing their hurricane-damaged home and their insurance policy or FEMA aid can now apply for up to $30,000 from Pinellas County.  

The Hurricane Home Repair Program covers everything from direct repair costs to insurance deductibles, with priority for special needs and lower-income households.  

The program is available to residents in unincorporated Pinellas and most cities, though the cities of Clearwater, Largo and St. Petersburg have their own funding sources to help homeowners. Income eligibility requirements and type of repair requirements apply, as outlined further below. 

The pre-screening application opened at 8 a.m. today at pinellas.gov/stormrepair.  

Applicants must show both homeowners insurance information and a FEMA award or denial letter before being considered for approval, so those interested should focus on pursuing those funds before applying to the County. It is critical for those interested in the Pinellas County program to apply for FEMA Individual Assistance before the Jan. 7, 2025, deadline if they have not already done so.  

The FEMA program can cover up to $42,500 in eligible home repairs.  

Funding for the program comes from the Florida State Housing Initiatives Partnership Program (SHIP) and Pinellas County.  

Qualifications for Hurricane Home Repair Program   

The Hurricane Home Repair Program is available for households that earn less than 120 percent of the Area Median Income ($80,280 for an individual or $114,600 for a family of four). Applicants will be prioritized based on need and income, starting with special needs households followed by those earning 50 to 80 percent of Area Median Income or less.  

The home must be your primary residence and its assessed value cannot exceed $375,000 as determined by the Pinellas County Property Appraiser. Mobile homes built since 1994 also qualify.  

Eligible Repairs 

All construction work must be permitted and completed by licensed and insured contractors. The scopes of work will address items in need of repair.  Examples include, but are not limited to: 

  • Roof repair/ replacement 
  • Tree removal 
  • Window repair/replacement 
  • HVAC replacement 
  • Electrical system 
  • Mold remediation 
  • Drywall 
  • Flooring  

Required Documents 

  • FEMA award letter 
  • Insurance reimbursement letter 
  • Income documents (e.g., pay stubs, Social Security award letter, pension statements, tax statements if self-employed) 
  • Bank statements (2 months checking, 1 month savings) 
  • Photo ID for all adults 
  • Birth certificates for all minors 
  • Social Security cards for all household members 

Additional documentation for payment of insurance deductible: 

  • Insurance declaration page that shows insurance deductible amount 

Completed applications will be reviewed and prioritized in the order submitted. For program questions, contact Pinellas County Housing & Community Development at (727) 464-8210. 

Residents can stay informed about all new financial programs that become available in Pinellas County by texting RECOVER to 888777 for regular updates or by visiting disaster.pinellas.gov.