Homeowner Rehabilitation/Reconstruction Program
Up to $375,000 to rehabilitate, rebuild or relocate your home to make it safe and up to code.
If the primary residence where you lived at the time of the storms was damaged, we’ll help you restore or rebuild it. This program helps owners of traditional single-family homes and manufactured or mobile homes.
Ready to apply? Start an application.
Eligibility
Eligible Applicants
- Your primary residence where you lived during the storms was damaged by Hurricanes Idalia, Helene, and/or Milton.
- Property may not be located in the City of St. Petersburg. To check your address please use our address lookup tool.
- Eligible home types include single-family residences, such as: stick built detached structures, duplex, triplex, quadplex, mobile or manufactured homes.
- Ineligible structures may include dwellings not intended as permanent housing, such as campers, sheds, outbuildings, houseboats, etc. and dwellings in structures which contain 5 or more units.
- You must have owned and occupied the home at the time of disaster and still own the house. Second homes are not eligible.
- Damaged property must not be located in a regulatory floodway.
- Household income up to 120% of Area Median Income (AMI) with priority to households with income up to 80% of AMI (see table below).
Work You Can Do
- Rehabilitation of your home to local code and building standards.
- Repairing or replacing hurricane damaged roofs, windows, septic tanks, etc.
- Demolishing and re-building your home.
- Re-building and elevating substantially damaged homes in special flood hazard areas.
- Replacement of mobile homes.
Income Eligibility
Homeowner Rehabilitation/Reconstruction Program
| Number of People in Household | 80% AMI | 120% AMI |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | $58,450 | $87,600 |
| 2 | $66,800 | $100,150 |
| 3 | $75,150 | $112,650 |
| 4 | $83,450 | $125,150 |
| 5 | $90,150 | $135,150 |
| 6 | $96,850 | $145,200 |
| 7 | $103,500 | $155,200 |
| 8 | $110,200 | $165,200 |
Application Phase Prioritization
80% of the program funding is reserved for households that make 80% or less of Area Median Income (AMI). See income chart.
Applications will be prioritized for households that earn 80% or less of Area Median Income with higher priority to homes with individuals 18 and younger or 62 and older, and/or persons with disabilities.
Twenty percent (20%) of program funding is set aside to serve middle-income households on a first-come first-served basis.
Special information for mobile home owners.
Funding Award Guidelines and Terms
- Max Award = $375,000
- Duplication of Benefits will be checked for all properties (you cannot get financial assistance from other state or federal programs for the same work).
- Applicants living in a Special Flood Hazard Area (SFHA) who receive federal assistance under these programs must obtain and maintain flood insurance.
- The homeowner must agree to live in the home as their primary residence for 5 years and maintain homestead and insurance coverage.
- The homeowner must agree to a forgivable 5-year mortgage which automatically reduces at 20% per year. No payments are required as long as the owner resides in the home for the 5 years.
Required Program Documents
Identity
- Driver’s license or state-issued ID for all adult household members, OR
- Evidence of permanent residency for non-U.S. Citizens/permanent resident alien status
- Birth certificates for all household members under the age of 18
Household Income
Wages
- W-2 Forms or Most Recent Tax Return;
- Three (3) recent paystubs within the past three (3) months,
Retirement/Social Security
- Three (3) Monthly Bank Statements (Social Security Benefits & Pension only),
- Current Social Security Benefits letter (including benefits paid to minors),
- Current Pension/Retirement Benefit letter (if applicable), and prior year 1099;
- Current Annuity Payment letter (if applicable), and prior year 1099;
Self-Employment Income
Most recent tax return (1040 or 1040A), W-2 Forms; and current year profit and loss statement;
- Rental Income:
Current lease agreements - Unemployment Benefits:
Current benefit letter with gross benefit amount; - Court Ordered Alimony/Spousal Maintenance:
Copy of court order documentation; - Taxable Interest and Dividends (including amounts received by, or on behalf of minors);
No Income
Adult household members who receive no income will be required to submit a Certification of No Income. These household members typically include those that are unemployed.
Ownership
One (1) of the following (stick built/traditional home)*:
- Deed
- Mortgage statement
- Probated will
- Court order or judgement granting ownership
- Landowner Consent (if land is leased)
- Mobile/Manufactured Homes Only: Title
Manufactured home owners must demonstrate ownership of the unit and that they are authorized to replace it on the land or own the land.
Primary Residence
Provide one (1)
- Homestead exemption
- FEMA Individual Assistance or SBA Award
OR 2 of the following:
- Driver’s license or state-issued ID card;
- Utility or credit card bill
- Insurance documentation indicating primary residence
- Employer’s statements, including pay stubs and similar employment documents
Property Taxes
- Proof from the tax assessor of property taxes paid in full at the time of application; or
- Proof of a payment plan in good standing at the time of application
Mortgage Statement
If there is a mortgage on the property, proof that the mortgage is in good standing
- Most recent mortgage statement, at time of application, showing no arrearages
Ready to apply?
The People First Housing Recovery Program addresses hurricane-related damage, prevents long-term displacement, and increases the availability of safe, code-compliant, and affordable housing. Applicants are required to meet eligibility and income requirements listed for each program. Please see the income eligibility table above to determine if your household is within the income limits of the program prior to submitting an application.
Have Questions?
First, read the details about all five People First programs then review our Frequently Asked Questions.
Holiday Hours for in-person help centers and the call center
Modified Hours on Wednesday, November 26: 8 a.m. – 3 p.m.
Closed on Thanksgiving Thursday and Friday, November 27 and 28
Modified Hours on Christmas Eve, Wednesday, December 24: 8 a.m. – 12 p.m.
Closed for Christmas on Thursday and Friday, December 25 and 26
Closed for New Years on Thursday and Friday, January 1 and 2
Meet with a case worker
Both full-time People First Help Centers are open:
- Mon., Tues., Thurs. and Fri.: 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
- Wednesday: 8 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Please see our holiday hours above.
Clearwater
2600 McCormick Dr.
Suite 100
Clearwater, FL 33759
St. Petersburg
5000 Park Street N
Suite 4
St. Petersburg FL 33709
Call our Help Center
727-606-3307
- Mon., Tues., Thurs. and Fri.: 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
- Wednesday: 8 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Please see our holiday hours above.
At times, we have a high number of calls and you may experience a long wait time. When you call, you’ll have the option to leave your name and number and get a call back from a case worker within two business days.
Questions via Email
You can email us with general questions that aren’t addressed on the website and the FAQs. If you have application-specific questions, your best bet is to call us or visit our help centers. Once you have submitted an application, don’t use this email; a case worker will reach out to you by direct email to discuss your application. Note (10/24/25): We are experiencing a large volume of emails with the recent launch of the People First Hurricane Recovery Programs.
Under Florida law, e-mail addresses are public records. If you do not want your e-mail address released in response to a public records request, do not send electronic mail to this entity. Instead, contact this office by phone or visit one of our help centers.