Thrive
St. Pete explores storm-damaged housing solutions
Demand vastly outweighing supply fueled a persistent attainable housing crisis long before back-to-back hurricanes damaged nearly 16,000 homes in St. Petersburg. Local leaders are now exploring solutions for an exacerbated problem.
City Council members recently discussed reappropriating state and federal housing funding to support storm victims. Amy Foster, housing development administrator, noted that multiple coastal communities have paused citywide “blue sky” programs to focus on disaster recovery.
Foster said those municipalities lack funding for storm-related housing initiatives. “People are repurposing the dollars they have,” she added. “At some point, we may have to have that conversation.
“If you want there to be disaster programming, we have to have the conversation about where that funding comes from.”
Councilmember Gina Driscoll and several of her colleagues disapproved of an “all-or-nothing” approach. She said the city should continue serving everyone with housing issues while creating funding for “this extraordinary situation.”
St. Petersburg – primarily through federal and state grants – has roughly $2.7 million and $925,000 budgeted for its home rehabilitation and down payment assistance programs, respectively. Those amounts increase significantly when including currently untouchable community redevelopment area (CRA) revenue.
In addition, officials have $873,000 remaining in city-funded Rebates for Rehabilitation coffers. They also have a backlog of applicants who applied for the various programs before the storm.
Those initiatives come with various city, state and federal guidelines and income restrictions. Foster stressed that residents should not “depend on any of these programs to get anything done.”
“People are starting to get dependent on some of this and think they are entitled to that program – whenever they are ready for that program,” she elaborated. “And the programs run out of money.”
Councilmember John Muhammad suggested splitting the money evenly between storm victims and non-affected residents. Foster hopes to avoid terminating previously submitted applications.
Councilmember Copley Gerdes asked how much funding would remain in rehabilitation programs if officials approved every application. Administrators could not provide an answer, as those initiatives require home inspections.
Gerdes noted they could use the maximum amount requested to provide an estimate. Foster will provide that information at a follow-up discussion in January.
New code compliance programming and the We Are St. Pete fund, established after Hurricane Helene, will also help provide storm relief. State lawmakers could also bolster local assistance.
In November 2023, legislators convened a special session just over two months after Hurricane Idalia. Despite not suffering widespread damage, St. Petersburg received $600,000 a month later.
However, lawmakers have yet to meet since the most recent hurricanes, and the legislative session begins in March. “We would still need a couple of months to turn on any disaster funding,” Foster said. “And again, we don’t know what that dollar amount will be.”
City-administered housing disaster funding could cover:
- Demolition, rehabilitation and new home construction.
- Reimbursement for emergency supplies to weather-proof damaged homes.
- Temporary repairs to avoid further damage and make a home hospitable.
- Insurance deductible payments for qualifying homes.
- Rental, utility and mortgage assistance.
Pinellas County’s pending program would provide up to $30,000 per household for home rehabilitation costs not covered by insurance or Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) assistance. Residents could also use the funding to pay insurance deductibles.
Councilmember Brandi Gabbard said many cost-burdened residents chose a higher deductible in exchange for lower monthly insurance bills. “So, that is a place that I think we could do a lot of good.”
Pinellas County’s program is open to households earning up to 80% of the area median income (AMI), although that could increase to 120% after its launch. Councilmember Copley Gerdes and others advocated for a 140% limit in St. Petersburg – $93,6660 for one person.
“I could support up to 140% (of the AMI), but I would really like to see us allocate at least 50% of whatever these funds are to 80% (AMI) and under,” Gabbard said. “If we could do that, then I think we’re addressing … both pockets of the greatest need.”
Foster will now estimate the amount of non-allocated funding remaining in previous housing programs. She will provide that information at a follow-up meeting in January.
The council will vote on the We Are St. Pete Fund’s disbursement parameters Thursday. Recently approved code compliance amendments will also assist residents with storm-damaged homes.
Foster noted the city is also working with multiple local organizations to offer immediate resources. Gabbard urges residents to ask for help, and no request is “too small or too big.”
“People feel pretty hopeless sometimes,” she added. “And my message to people always is, ‘You don’t know until you ask.’ So, ask me so I can go and ask on your behalf.”
Tatguy
December 10, 2024at7:30 pm
Jesus H C. Enough already!!
There are reasons for rules,limits, and stipulations. If your property isn’t up to code, get it up to code. If the next major storm damages your home, because it’s not up to code, YOUR loss! If you can’t afford it, OH Well! If you can’t afford repairs or maintaining your home, it’s time to leave.
Sam
December 10, 2024at5:59 pm
I have applied for CRA funds and been rejected because they thought homestead didn’t count for the first year I lived there. Other people have accessed the funds and now that I have proven them wrong the funds are on hold.
Mike
December 10, 2024at9:43 am
Steve everything you say and think is wrong, both logically and morally. Everything. Get a real job. Buy, own, maintain property in this city. Pay taxes. Then i will try to take you seriously. You are a spectator with abjectly profoundly upside down ideas. you are destroying our commmunity comparing yourself to billionaires. Its incomprehensible and simply embarrasing that you actually harbor these “opinions” you spew, despite having near zero flesh in this game. Seriously. Let the adults talk.
Steve Sullivan
December 10, 2024at12:01 am
Mike, are you a millionaire or billionaire? If not then we shouldn’t reward you for falling short either. See how dumb that sounds ? People arrive where they are in life through life experience and circumstances. Why aren’t you President of the US or a brain surgeon. As it pertains to this issue. You should have a problem with the people building along the shoreline in low lying areas. They directly impact your insurance rates are the money and resources that has to set aside to service those areas during a storm
Steve Sullivan
December 9, 2024at11:50 pm
Peter that is a bold faced lie and your bigotry is on display. If you are feeling that way after serving your country than you know how millions of black soldiers felt over the years having not received any benefits from the GI bill for education, housing etc.. then having to tolerate being called all types of names and discrimination upon returning home. Are you scared to publish your last name? Cowardly
Peter
December 9, 2024at9:15 pm
i BET WHEN MY HOUSE GETS DAMAGED THEY WILL NOT HELP ME I tend to always fall between the tracks. If i lost food I make too much so I do not get help. I remember when I tried to get a grant to winterize my home I was told sorry only for black folks Seems everything is for other folks So glad i served my country to be singled out and treated so poorly
Mike
December 9, 2024at11:59 am
Ok. So there are 5 people with near zero qualifications sitting on a multimillion dollar slush fund to manipulate the housing market specifically to reward people for not making enough money?
Huh. Well isnt that something.