Tampa Republic

New aid is available for Tampa homeowners impacted by hurricanes Helene and Milton. The City of Tampa has allocated $3.2 million to assist primary homesteaded and income-eligible residents.

Pre-applications will be accessible online starting Monday, March 24th.

The city offers three types of Hurricane Disaster Relief for homeowners using State Housing Initiatives Partnership (SHIP) Funds. These include Insurance Deductible Assistance (up to $10,000), Mortgage Assistance (up to $5,000), and Cost of Repair Assistance (up to $20,000). Residents can apply for one or all forms of assistance, but the maximum reimbursement per household is capped at $20,000.

Homeowners are advised to gather necessary documentation before beginning the application process.

"Rebuilding has been front and center of my agenda since our city was hit by these back-to-back storms last year," stated Mayor Jane Castor. "This has the potential to affect hundreds of families as they get back on their feet and prepare for our next hurricane season."

Eligibility requires that residents be homeowners within Tampa's city limits and earn up to 140 percent of the Area Median Income (AMI)—estimated at about $133,700 for a family of four.

"Homeowners hit hard by hurricanes have been painfully rebuilding their lives and their homes for months on end," said Tampa Councilman Luis Viera, representing northern Tampa and New Tampa. "It is our hope that this recovery assistance can help these struggling residents in the journey to get settled into their homes and find some sense of normalcy."

Documentation requirements vary depending on the program applied for but generally include proof of income and government-issued photo identification for all adult household members.

Insurance Deductible Assistance applicants need proof of FEMA application results for Hurricane Helene or Milton, insurance claim payouts, contractor payments, and identification documents.

Mortgage Assistance applicants must provide a recent mortgage statement, evidence of home displacement or lost wages, delinquency status post-hurricane (at least 31 days past due), along with identification documents.

Cost of Repair Assistance requires receipts or invoices showing payments made by the homeowner, proof of filed insurance claims if applicable, any received insurance payments, plus identification documents.

For more information or questions:

Contact: 306 East Jackson Street

Tampa, Florida 33602

(813) 274-8211