Pinellas County Income Eligible Hurricane Home Repair Program
Up to $30,000 grant for repairs not covered by insurance or FEMA
Applications are now open.
The Hurricane Home Repair Program helps income eligible homeowners impacted by Hurricane Helene or Milton pay for storm repairs not covered by insurance or FEMA. Eligible residents may receive up to $30,000 in grant funding as reimbursement or direct payment for eligible home repairs. Funding is provided by Florida’s State Housing Initiatives Partnership Program (SHIP) and Pinellas County. These statewide SHIP funds are designated to help local governments provide affordable housing opportunities and have specific limits on homeowner income and total property value (see below).
The program area excludes the cities of St. Petersburg, Clearwater, and Largo, which have SHIP funds for other affordable housing relief programs.
Important: Applicants must provide both homeowners insurance information and a FEMA Home Repair Assistance award or denial letter before being considered for approval.
Program Qualifications
Annual household income cannot exceed 120% Area Median Income (AMI):
| Household Size | 50% Income Limit | 80% Income Limit | 120% Income Limit |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 Person | $33,450 | $53,500 | $80,280 |
| 2 Persons | $38,200 | $61,150 | $91,680 |
| 3 Persons | $43,000 | $68,800 | $103,200 |
| 4 Persons | $47,750 | $76,400 | $114,600 |
| 5 Persons | $51,600 | $82,550 | $123,840 |
- Applications will be prioritized in the following order:
- Special Needs Households
- Households with income less than 50% Area Median Income
- Households with income less than 80% Area Median Income
- Households with income less than 120% Area Median Income
- The home must be your primary residence documented by homestead exemption status and it must be located in Pinellas County.
- The total assessed value of the home cannot exceed $375,000 as determined by the Pinellas County Property Appraiser. This valuation cap is set by the state’s SHIP program and is separate from FEMA guidance on substantial damage assessments. Look up your property’s assessed value with the Property Appraiser’s Search Tool.
- Mobile homes built since 1994 can qualify for the program.
- The program includes most cities except for the cities of St. Petersburg, Clearwater and Largo, which have SHIP funds for other affordable housing relief programs.
Award Type
- Grant: Maximum $30,000; grants funds will be paid directly to the contractor or can reimburse a homeowner for eligible home repair costs.
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 Home Repair Assistance award or denial letter (more info on FEMA Home Repair Assistance)
- Homeowners insurance information/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
Note: Make sure you’ve received a final decision from FEMA on home repairs
The County program can only award grants to homeowners who demonstrate they’ve exhausted other assistance from insurance and FEMA. If you’ve applied for help from FEMA, make sure you’ve specifically requested assistance with home repairs or property damage. You must provide a final award or denial letter from FEMA specifically for damage to your home to qualify for the County’s program. Example:
If FEMA sends you a letter with “no decision” and asks you to send your insurance settlement information, you must send this information to FEMA and get a final decision before completing your application for the County program. If you do not have homeowners’ insurance, you can qualify for the County program, but you must get a final decision from FEMA first.
Applicants awaiting a final decision or who need to appeal a FEMA decision can call FEMA’s Helpline at 1-800-621-3362 or visit the Disaster Recovery Center at the Enoch D. Davis Center at 1111 18th Ave. S., St. Petersburg through Jan. 31, 2025.
Keep in mind: appeals or updates to your FEMA application can take time to process, but you must complete this step before consideration in the County program.
How to apply
Applications are now available through the online application portal.
- Complete the pre-screening application.
- Applicants that meet the pre-screening eligibility criteria will be provided with the full application.
- Complete applications will be reviewed and prioritized in the order submitted.
- Staff notifies you of approval or denial.
- Hire a licensed contractor to complete eligible work.
- After work is completed and inspected, submit invoices for payment or reimbursement of eligible work.
Note: Due to the high program interest and documentation requirements, applicants should expect that it may take several weeks or months from the time an application is initially approved to receiving the grant money as a reimbursement. Grants are only issued as a payment or reimbursement after permitted work is completed.
Contact Information
For questions, call (727) 464-8210.