Still Recovering From Helene or Milton? Help Is Coming to Brandon

By Ralph

Nearly two years after Hurricanes Helene and Milton swept through Florida, some Hillsborough County homeowners are still dealing with damage left behind by the storms.

A new county program may be able to help.

Hillsborough County is now accepting applications for its Rebuilding for Tomorrow Homeowner Repair and Reconstruction Program, which provides assistance to eligible homeowners whose primary residences were damaged by Hurricanes Helene or Milton in 2024.

And Brandon residents won't necessarily have to travel far to get help with the application.

The county is scheduled to hold a Rebuilding for Tomorrow pop-up assistance center at the Brandon Park & Recreation Center, 502 E. Sadie St., on Tuesday, September 22, from 5 to 7 p.m.

County staff will be available to help residents understand the program and navigate the application process.

What assistance is available?

Hillsborough County has dedicated more than $211 million in federal disaster-recovery funding to its single-family housing program.

Depending on eligibility and the condition of the home, assistance can include:

• Repairs for hurricane-related damage

• Reconstruction or replacement of severely damaged homes

• Reimbursement for certain eligible repairs homeowners have already completed

• Work necessary to address safety issues

Repair assistance can reach up to $150,000, while qualifying reconstruction or replacement assistance can reach up to $350,000. Eligible homeowners who already paid for qualifying repairs may receive reimbursement of up to $50,000, subject to program requirements.

Who may qualify?

Applicants must own a qualifying single-family home in Hillsborough County and must have used the damaged property as their primary residence when Helene or Milton struck in 2024.

Household income must generally be at or below 120% of the Area Median Income, with priority given to households at or below 80%.

Renters, landlords and owners of secondary homes are not eligible for this particular program.

Know Before You Go

Residents don't have to wait until September 22 to begin the process. Applications are already being accepted online through Hillsborough County's Rebuilding for Tomorrow program.

Residents who need assistance can also call the program's help line at (813) 540-7767, Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

For Brandon homeowners who have spent the past two years trying to put their homes—and their lives—back together after the storms, this may be an opportunity worth investigating.