Chris Johnson, chief operating officer of the United Way of South Sarasota County, told the Venice City Council during the audience-participation portion that the Long Term Recovery Group (LTRG) — a coalition of more than 40 agencies and volunteer partners — has completed 120 home rebuilds for families affected by recent hurricanes.

Johnson said LTRG has secured continued support from World Renew for two more years and has partnered with volunteer labor groups including Mennonite Disaster Service, Praying Pelican Missions and Presbyterian Disaster Assistance. He said the LTRG recently purchased a 16-foot box truck to transport materials and that the group’s average home reconstruction cost is about $5,558 — a figure Johnson attributed to donated materials and volunteer labor.

Johnson also said the United Way has been awarded a $2,200,000 contract for disaster case management through FEMA, administered via Volunteer Florida. He emphasized that the disaster case management contract funds case management services only, not construction: “It is our responsibility to reach every 1 of those families and bring them back to a safe, sanitary, and secure, functional home,” he said, and added that the LTRG is actively pursuing additional funds for rebuilding.

Johnson identified ongoing needs: additional funds to continue reconstruction, a warehouse to store donated building materials and appliances, and continued volunteer labor. He said LTRG is actively working 78 open cases spanning Hurricane Ian and subsequent storms, and that the group is conducting outreach to registered FEMA applicants to link families to recovery services.

Council members responded with thanks and asked that the city continue to coordinate where appropriate. The presentation was delivered during the public-comment portion of the meeting; no formal council action was taken on the report that day.