Disaster relief resources and information
In the wake of the devastation the State of Florida has experienced due to recent natural disasters, Florida Housing Finance Corporation
(Florida Housing) is working with state and federal officials to provide information on disaster relief resources and information.
This webpage provides available resources to assist you or those you know with recovery efforts. Florida Housing will continue to
provide updates as more resources and information becomes available.
HURRICANE IAN
Florida Housing will be awarding $5 million to local SHIP offices in areas hardest hit by Hurricane Ian to assist residents in paying their home insurance deductibles. Funding assistance is available to individuals, families, and seniors living in Charlotte, Collier, DeSoto, Hardee, Lee, and Sarasota counties who apply and income qualify through their local SHIP office: Local Government Information (floridahousing.org).
Each office is currently working to get applications for assistance up on their website. As applications become live this page will be updated to include direct links to those resources. In the meantime, please see preliminary program information and requirements below:
- Statewide SHIP Program Requirements:
- Income eligibility: Income Limits (floridahousing.org)
- Proof of insurance claim on primary residence
- Residence in one of the six listed counties
- Local Government Information:
- Charlotte County
- Proof of US citizenship and full-time, permanent Charlotte County residency required
- Proof of insurance claim (renters or homeowners) and FEMA registration required
- Full application with proper identification and verification of income of all household members will be processed
- Acknowledgement of the Fraud Policy and notarized Duplication of Benefits affidavit required
- A minimum of 1 in-person appointment required; Englewood and Port Charlotte locations available
- Maximum grant award = $12,000
- No direct payments/reimbursement to applicant; eligible payments direct to insurance provider or qualified vendor
- If your family has been displaced, we encourage you to visit www.FloridaHousingSearch.org. This free, statewide search platform is updated to ensure all listings are accurate and can help you quickly locate an affordable rental property. If you do not have Internet access, you may also call the following toll-free number for assistance in conducting a search: 1-877-428-8844.
- If your home sustained damage as a result of the storm, your local State Housing Initiatives Partnership (SHIP) program office may have recovery assistance available to help with temporary relocation, rental assistance, debris removal and/or home repairs. Please contact your local SHIP office directly for more information: Local Government Information
- Florida residents who live in Charlotte, Collier, DeSoto, Hardee, Hillsborough, Lee, Manatee, Pinellas and Sarasota counties can apply for federal assistance at www.DisasterAssistance.gov, by calling 800-621-FEMA (3362) or by using the FEMA App.
Medically dependent residents of Florida who need electricity to operate medical equipment, transport services to evacuate due to a medical condition or need help getting medication during a disaster can register for assistance at FloridaDisaster.org/SNR.
Visit Hurricane Ian | FEMA.gov for information and resources available for Florida residents affected by the storm. The page will be available in Creole, Simplified Chinese, Portuguese, Spanish and Vietnamese.
- If you have a private business that has been impacted, please visit FloridaDisaster.biz/.
- For any of our HLP homeowners, US Bank has a Disaster Relief Assistance page here: https://www.usbank.com/about-us-bank/community/disaster-relief-assistance.html
- Freddie Mac, Fannie Mae and Federal Housing Administration loans (FHA) back the majority of U.S. mortgages – and each has some kind of program to help homeowners struggling to pay their monthly mortgage payment after a disaster. In all cases, a homeowner must initiate the process. Disaster relief options are offered to homeowners in declared major disaster areas. However, even homeowners outside those areas may have options if their home incurred a disaster-related loss that impacts their ability to make a mortgage payment. Foreclosure and other legal proceedings are also suspended while homeowners are on a forbearance plan. Click here to learn more.
- Operation Blue Roof: Operated by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Operation Blue Roof provides homeowners and permanently occupied rental properties in disaster areas with fiber-reinforced sheeting to cover their damaged roofs until arrangements can be made for permanent repairs.
- (Coming Soon) HurricaneHomes.org: Local Realtor associations have built a safe platform for the community to access rentals for temporary housing in Fort Myers, Cape Coral, Naples, Bonita Springs, and Marco Island. The website, HurricaneHomes.org, provides listings for housing given by licensed Realtors in the area whose properties have been vetted as reliable, safe, and clean.
RESOURCES FOR IMPACTED RENTAL PROPERTY OWNERS
IRS and FHFC Guidance
GENERAL INFORMATION
HOMEOWNERS/RENTERS
- FloridaHousingsearch.org is an affordable rental housing locator for the State of Florida. Affected families may search the locator for rental housing units that are available throughout the state. They may also contact the locator’s toll-free call center for assistance in conducting a search. The toll-free number is 1-877-428-8844.
- Click here for contact information of the local SHIP office on funding assistance for storm repairs to your home, rental assistance or temporary relocation.
FEDERAL
- For federal disaster relief option, please click here to visit the US Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) resource page. Other federal assistance information can be found on the following websites:
STATE
- The Department of Economic Opportunity’s (DEO) website contains disaster relief information on the Community Development Block Grant-Disaster Recovery Program.
- The Florida Division of Emergency Management’s (DEM) website contains disaster preparedness and recovery information for Florida citizens.
- Special Needs Registry website
- Information on other insurance assistance can be found on Citizens Property Insurance Corporation’s website.
- Information on employment opportunities from the National Dislocated Worker Grants can be found on the Department of Economic Opportunity (DEO) website
LOCAL
- Information on recovery and housing assistance may be available in your local county. You will need to directly contact your local State Housing Initiatives Partnership (SHIP) program office to see what is available to assist you.
- Contact information for local SHIP offices can be accessed here.