City staff on Nov. 6 presented a plan to deploy $2 million in general-fund homeowner hurricane-assistance to residents affected by hurricanes Celine and Milton, directing awards to the hardest-hit neighborhoods first and setting a maximum award of $30,000 per household.

Abby Feeley, the city's administrator for development and economic opportunity, told the council the program will prioritize ZIP codes that experienced the most damage — including Forest Hills, Palmetto Beach, and areas south of Gandy in Port Tampa — and will use a household income threshold of up to 10% above area median income for eligibility. Feeley said the 10%-above-AMI threshold places a four-person household's qualifying income at roughly $160,000.

The program is designed to reimburse eligible homeowners who have already made repairs and to support homeowners who have not yet begun work. For homeowners who have not yet completed repairs, the program will split payments in two: an initial allocation (up to $15,000) to purchase materials or start work, and a final payment (up to another $15,000) after inspection and verification of completed scope. Reimbursable work includes roof repair or replacement, HVAC, drywall and flooring repairs, interior restoration, tree removal and related storm-damage repairs.

Feeley said staff plans a press release on Nov. 3 and a rolling application window that begins Nov. 17, with both an online application and a housing hotline staffed to help applicants. She asked for help publicizing the program and said the housing hotline number is (813) 307-5555. The office will provide in-person assistance at a city location (Hannah) for applicants who prefer to apply in person.

Feeley said staff aims to expend all funds by September of the next fiscal year, with a target of processing roughly 90% of awards within 60 days of permit issuance for work requiring permits. She said staff has encountered some fraud in an earlier tranche of recovery funds and intends to require documentation and, where appropriate, staged payments to reduce risk.

Council members praised the program as more inclusive than earlier federal or HUD-linked relief funds and supported a schedule of quarterly written updates, with an initial update expected in early 2026. Several council members indicated they would help publicize the application window to constituents and community partners.