Hillsborough's plan for federal hurricane funds focuses on housing
Hillsborough County approved a draft plan to use upward of $700 million in hurricane recovery grant funding.
Why it matters: Hurricanes Helene and Milton caused more than $2.4 billion in damage across the county. Now, residents have 30 days to weigh in on where federal aid should go.
The big picture: The $709 million disaster recovery fund was allocated to the county by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to help with recovery from Helene and Milton.
At least 70% of the funds will be designated for low- and moderate-income households countywide.
Hillsborough officials will gather feedback through an online survey and a series of community meetings throughout June.
Zoom in: The plan calls for more than half of the funding ($360 million) to support housing programs, which county officials identified as the biggest area of need.
Homeowners can get up to $350,000 to rebuild or replace storm-damaged properties, including elevating them if needed.
Awards of up to $25 million will support the long-term development of affordable rental housing, with a minimum project size of 20 units and a maximum of 300 units.
Up to $15 million is available for facilities that serve the homeless and other special populations to cover storm damage and resilience.
Infrastructure upgrades tied to housing can receive between $250,000 and $20 million, focusing on fixes to long-standing issues and improving storm resilience.
Between the lines: With a public hearing later this month to decide whether to repeal the county's affordable housing trust, these recovery programs could have heightened importance.
The fine print: Each program has eligibility requirements based on income, extent of damage and other factors.
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