Some homeowners in St. Pete are still waiting for funding to raise their homes after they flooded during Hurricane Helene. One couple, Jason and Carrie Nash, have been waiting for an update on their application to the Elevate Florida program for about a year with no progress.
Elevate Florida Program Delays
The Elevate Florida program is expected to cover approximately 75% of the costs to lift homes using federal grant money from FEMA. The homeowner would be expected to cover the remaining 25% of the cost. The couple applied to the program and received an email last summer from Elevate Florida, saying the state had sent their application to FEMA for further review.
Pinellas County state lawmakers signed a letter to congressional leaders, calling on them to urge federal agencies to expedite the grant approval process. Rep. Lindsay Cross says that because the grant money being awarded is coming from federal funding, they don’t have direct control at the state level.
The couple has been renting while they wait to hopefully get awarded a grant from Elevate Florida. They have been paying double rent, double bills, and double everything, while also paying for a storage unit to house all of their belongings.
Original reporting: Tampa Bay Florida News (HLL/CB) — read the source article.
