Pasco County outlines $585M HUD disaster‑recovery plan and individual housing program at Dade City meeting

Pasco County officials briefed the Dade City commission on Jan. 13 about federal disaster‑recovery funding and programs intended to help residents repair, rebuild or relocate after recent hurricanes.

"My name is Chuck Lane. I'm the director of the office of disaster recovery resources for Pasco County," Lane said, introducing the county's Better Future program funded by a $585,000,000 allocation from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. He said the county's plan directs nearly half of the allocation toward housing and infrastructure, with specific program budgets and priorities shaped by community input.

Lane described the county's individual housing program, which is budgeted at $205,000,000 and is open for applications. He said the program must spend 70% of the HUD allocation on households at or below 80% of area median income and that staff created a prioritized first phase for the most vulnerable households. "If you are 50% of area median income and below, or if you have a child in your home ages 5 and under, a senior 62 and older, are still displaced from one of the storms, or are a person with disabilities needing accessibility features, you will be prioritized," Lane said.

Lane explained eligible activities: homeowner reimbursement for out‑of‑pocket expenses (for example, debris removal, temporary housing costs or contractor payments), repair or rebuild of primary residences, demolition where a home is beyond repair, elevation costs if code requires elevation upon replacement, buyouts of individual properties or geographic groups of properties, and relocation assistance while repairs proceed. He described program caps discussed in the presentation: maximum reimbursement for a traditionally built home at $75,000 (reimbursement), a $175,000 maximum repair cost, a $330,000 maximum replacement cost, and up to an additional $100,000 where elevation is required. For manufactured homes the reimbursement maximum mentioned was $25,000.

Lane warned applicants that duplication of benefits rules apply and that HUD and FEMA payments or insurance could reduce award amounts, but he emphasized that the county will assist applicants through a 17‑step application and through intake events and case managers to help complete submissions. The county also set aside $20,000,000 of the individual housing program to cover households earning between 80% and 120% of AMI who are still displaced.

The county plans to invest $100,000,000 in new housing construction for low‑ and moderate‑income households, $30,000,000 for public facilities, $25,000,000 for economic recovery to help small businesses and nonprofits, $10,000,000 for public services, and $10,000,000 for planning. Lane urged residents to use the county website and a dedicated phone line for application assistance, noting that staff will help applicants who have difficulty with online forms.

Commissioners asked questions about retroactive reimbursement for homeowners who already repaired their homes and about documentation requirements; Lane said eligible out‑of‑pocket expenses can qualify for reimbursement if documented, but once an applicant submits the application, subsequent expenses typically are not eligible. He also described program outreach plans and intake supports to help applicants complete the process.