‘Rebuilding’ nonprofit continues post and pre-hurricane work

Hurricane season is not something to take lightly. Just last year, with Hurricanes Helene and Milton, approximately 41,000 homes were affected in Pinellas County alone. 

The nonprofit Rebuilding Together Greater Florida (formerly Rebuilding Together Tampa Bay) helps with disaster recovery by restoring damaged homes. Its work includes repairing roofs and installing new dry wall and flooring. 

TIME Magazine’s Dreamer of the Year cover, featuring Rebuilding Together Tampa Bay CEO Jose Garcia (front, center). Image provided.

All of Rebuilding Together Greater Florida’s services are free. Government funding and private donations cover the projects. 

At the end of 2024, Rebuilding Together Tampa Bay was named one of three national recipients of the Time Magazine Dreamer of the Year award.

Disaster readiness is another core part of the organization’s mission. With hurricane season approaching, CEO Jose Garcia and his team are emphasizing the importance of being prepared.  

Last year was a reminder of how devastating hurricanes can be. People need to be educated and not wait until the last moment to have everything in order. 

“The thing is to make sure they’re aware it can happen,” Garcia said. 

Before Hurricanes Ian (2022), Helene and Milton, Pinellas and Hillsborough counties were relatively unaffected for years. “We forgot how impactful a storm can be for us.” 

Rebuilding Together Greater Florida is still going full force on repairing homes that were damaged by last year’s storms. “Those,” explained Garcia, “are the first ones that we want to make sure are ready.”

Previous damage, left unrepaired, can be detrimental if another hurricane happens. For example, an already compromised roof can be destroyed by a tropical storm, he said. 

Any damage, no matter how small, should be repaired as soon as possible. Even minimal water intrusion can become problematic if a new storm approaches. 

“What we intend to do is tell people that they need to be aware that there are services like ours, available now and available after if anything happens,” Garcia said. “We [want to] keep people at their homes.” 

When people are forced to leave, this can be expensive and add more financial stress to local families. While the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) may offer some help, it will only provide so much. 

Recently, Rebuilding Together Greater Florida has helped multiple families in St. Pete. The nonprofit announced Wednesday that it will complete over $30,000 in renovations for local resident Mei Hillard’s property. The organization has or is currently working on nearly 50 homes in Pinellas County. 

To apply for the organization’s services, there are certain qualifications that have to be met. 

The individual or family must live in one of Rebuilding Together Greater Florida’s service areas, which includes St. Pete. Additionally, they must must own the home and not have any other residential properties. 

Their income level must be at or lower than 120% of the Area Median Income and the individual must be up to date with their taxes and home mortgage. 

To demonstrate these qualifications, the person applying has to submit required documentation including proof of identification (drivers’ license or Florida ID), dependents (birth certificate, adoption papers), income (paystubs, pension/retirement documents) and home ownership (mortgage statements, utility bills). 

People who were affected by Hurricanes Helene and Milton are encouraged to apply for Rebuilding Together Greater Florida’s services if they meet the criteria. 

To learn more, visit the organization’s website.