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 pre-application screening to confirm residency, basic income eligibility and storm damage before inviting full applications.

Why it matters: Residents from North Tampa neighborhoods told council in public comment the October floods displaced families, damaged homes and created long-lasting financial strain. Speakers described homes with feet of water, difficulty obtaining insurance payments and long waits for building permits. Councilmembers said they expected the SHIP-funded program to be only part of a larger recovery and to be coordinated with other local, state and federal relief efforts.

How the program will work: Feeley said the city expects to finalize the applicant screening and communications plan within about two weeks and to begin pre-application intake by mid-March; she estimated April 1 as a realistic target to have an operating intake system and phone number. ICF will handle intake and case management under the contract. Eligible uses described by staff include mortgage assistance (a maximum single payout of $5,000 per household for mortgage-related aid under this contract), reimbursement for permitted repairs (up to $20,000), and reimbursement for insurance deductibles (up to $10,000). Feeley said the contract will require applicants to sign a financial hardship attestation and provide supporting documentation such as mortgage account statements, receipts for repairs, and proof of flood-related damage.

Council and public response: Councilmember Viera, who represents the part of North Tampa hardest hit, described the allocation as a necessary first step and urged the administration to seek additional funds; several council members emphasized the need to pair direct assistance with longer-term stormwater and infrastructure work. Public commenters from Forest Hills and nearby neighborhoods urged faster action and clearer communications, saying many affected residents remain displaced, lack flood insurance and face high out-of-pocket costs.

What council approved (action details): The council approved an agreement authorizing ICF to administer these disaster relief funds on behalf of the city. Motion: “Approve agreement with ICF to administer SHIP and related disaster recovery funds totaling $3,200,000.” Mover: Councilmember Louis Viera. Second: Councilmember Charlie Clendenin. Vote: unanimous (Carlson, Hertzak, Clendenin, Henderson, Miranda, Viera, Maniscalco). The contract identifier and implementation dates were not specified in the meeting record; staff said they will return with operational timelines and outreach details.

What residents should gather now: Feeley advised residents to begin assembling mortgage statements, receipts for repairs and insurance deductible documentation and to be ready to demonstrate residency and storm-related damage when intake opens.

Next steps: Staff will finalize the ICF intake schedule and public communications materials, then report back to council with a timeline and outreach plan. Council also discussed an upcoming city workshop on other recovery funds and the option to request additional allocations in future budget actions.