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 MILTON
- If you need to quickly locate an affordable rental property, we encourage you to visit www.FloridaHousingSearch.org. This free, statewide search platform is being constantly updated to ensure all listings are accurate. If you do not have Internet access, you may also call the following toll-free number for assistance: 1-877-428-8844.
- If your home sustains 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
- For updates and information to prepare for Hurricane Milton, please visit Hurricane Milton | Florida Disaster.
HURRICANE HELENE
- If your family has been displaced and you need to quickly locate an affordable rental property, we encourage you to visit www.FloridaHousingSearch.org. This free, statewide search platform is being constantly updated to ensure all listings are accurate. If you do not have Internet access, you may also call the following toll-free number for assistance: 1-877-428-8844.
- If your home sustained damage as a result of Hurricane Helene, 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.
- Individuals affected by Hurricane Helene can now apply for assistance through FEMA online at www.DisasterAssistance.gov or by calling 800-621-3362.
Residents needing assistance, following Hurricane Helene, should visit Hurricane Helene | Florida Disaster, for updates on county resources available visit FloridaDisaster.org/Counties for a list of all 67 county emergency management contacts.
OTHER AVAILABLE RESOURCES
- 211 Tampa Bay Cares — is working with Pinellas County Emergency Management, Pinellas County Human Services, Pinellas VOAD, & other recovery organizations to ensure the safety of citizens.
- American Red Cross — financial donations for those impacted by Helene or blood donations for disaster victims.
- Farm Share — assists affected communities within days of a storm’s landfall, it’s crucial for Florida families to have enough food, water, and supplies to last until aid can be safely provided.
- Feeding Tampa Bay — donations will be immediately sent to the most impacted areas, helping to provide stability in the days, weeks and months after the storm. In partnership with the Tampa Bay area Emergency Operations Centers, Feeding Tampa Bay works directly with local emergency management operations to provide food, water, and hygiene items to our service area, state, and neighboring states during crises.
- Florida Disaster Fund — funds will be distributed to service organizations that help individuals in communities with disaster response and recovery. For Hurricane Helene, administrative and credit card fees have been waived — 100% of every donation to the fund will be used to help Floridians recover.
- OneBlood — is calling for blood donations for Helene victims. All blood types are welcome, but the most needed are O-negative and O-positive blood and platelets.
- The Salvation Army is mobilizing disaster response teams and mobile feeding units in Florida, Georgia, and the Carolinas to respond to Hurricane Helene’s impacts.
- United Way of Florida — The UWOF fund will assist communities in Florida impacted by Helene.
2024 NORTH FLORIDA TORNADO ASSISTANCE
- The Florida Division of Emergency Management announced the donation of up to 50 travel trailers available through the Florida Disaster Foundation to residents of Northwest Florida who were impacted by severe weather and tornadoes the week of January 8. The donated trailers will serve as temporary housing for residents who lost their homes in the storm. Eligible individuals should be contacted directly by the Division’s assistance team. Florida Disaster Foundation Home | Florida Disaster Foundation
HURRICANE IDALIA
- The Hurricane Housing Recovery Program (HHRP) is currently available to assist families with hurricane recovery purposes that include, but are not limited to, repair and replacement of housing; acquisition of building materials for home repair and construction; payment of insurance deductibles for storm-related damages, and housing reentry assistance such as security deposits, utility deposits, and temporary storage of household items. Please contact your local SHIP office directly to apply: Local Government Information .
- If your family has been displaced and you need to quickly locate an affordable rental property, we encourage you to visit www.FloridaHousingSearch.org. This free, statewide search platform is being constantly updated to ensure all listings are accurate. If you do not have Internet access, you may also call the following toll-free number for assistance: 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
- Individuals affected by Hurricane Idalia can now apply for assistance through FEMA online at www.DisasterAssistance.gov or by calling 800-621-3362.
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.
- U.S. Bank Disaster Relief – provides mortgage relief and property insurance assistance for participants in Florida Housing’s Homebuyer Loan Programs. If you have participated in one of Florida Housing’s Loan Programs and your servicer is U.S. Bank, please call:
- 800-365-7900 (to speak with a default counselor)
- 855-205-6693 (to speak with an insurance claims specialist)
- LoanCare Disaster Relief - if you need mortgage relief and have participated in one of Florida Housing’s Loan Programs and your servicer is Loancare, please call:
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:
- For mortgage assistance, please refer to the following resources:
STATE
- The FloridaCommerce 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 FloridaCommerce website
- Information on property insurance and how to secure your property before and after a disaster, visit the Florida Department of Financial Services website.
To report price gouging following a disaster and learn more information, visit the Florida Attorney General’s website.
- Price Gouging Hotline: 866-9NO-SCAM
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.