Tampa City Council approves $3.2 million agreement to deliver storm-recovery housing aid

Tampa City Council on Thursday authorized a $3,200,000 agreement with consulting firm ICF to administer state SHIP disaster funds and related recovery grants for residents affected by the October flooding attributed to Hurricane Milton and follow-on storms.

The agreement, which passed by unanimous roll-call vote, uses $3,000,000 in SHIP disaster relief with an additional allocation of roughly $213,000 to support mortgage assistance, repairs and insurance-deductible reimbursement for eligible City of Tampa homeowners. Councilmember Louis Viera moved the measure and Councilmember Charlie Clendenin seconded; the motion carried unanimously.

City Administrator for Development and Economic Opportunity Abby Feeley said the money is split to serve households at several income tiers: a state-required set‑aside for households at 50 percent of area median income (AMI), a tranche for 80 percent AMI and a remainder that may be used up to 140 percent AMI. Feeley told council the city and ICF held a kickoff call and will develop a short…