With the long-awaited arrival of federal funding, Orange County is now able to help homeowners who were negatively impacted by Hurricane Ian.
The County announced a new program, Orange County Recovers, that allows low-to-moderate-income homeowners with unresolved damage from the 2022 storm to apply online for grants. This program is available to homeowners throughout Orange County, including residents in municipalities within Orange County.
Hurricane Ian devastated southwest Florida, making landfall on September 28, 2022, as a Category 4 hurricane, causing more than $300 million in major damage across Orange County in Central Florida.
Orange County Recovers offers housing repair, replacement, or full reconstruction which will be funded as a grant to the homeowner. The county will select the vendors and pay them directly.
“Hurricane Ian impacted many Orange County homeowners who still have not been able to repair their properties,” said Mitchell Glasser, Manager of Orange County’s Housing and Community Development Division. “Orange County Recovers will help Orange County homeowners complete the necessary repairs to restore their property.”
In 2023, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) announced an allocation of $2.7 billion to help underserved communities in hard hit areas throughout Florida recover from disasters. Orange County received a total of $219.7 million in Community Development Block Grant – Disaster Recovery funds to address public infrastructure, facilities, housing, and more.
Program participants who are eligible and awarded a grant will not have to “front” costs and request reimbursement. The program will provide direct payment to contractors for work performed. The program provides grant funding. However, eligible homeowners who are awarded are expected to remain in the house for three years, and as part of the grant agreement will sign a 3-year promissory note. If the house is sold or used as collateral prior to the 3-year anniversary, a prorated amount may be due back to the county.
Visit Orange County Recovers for more information and the qualifications and necessary documents needed to apply. Residents can also call the Orange County Recovers Customer Service Center at 321-382-3514, and in-person meetings can also be scheduled via telephone.
The application portal will remain open until the budget is fully committed or exhausted.
Located in Central Florida, Orange County includes 13 municipalities and is home to world-famous Orlando theme parks, one of the nation’s largest convention centers and a thriving life science research park. Seven elected members make up the Board of County Commissioners, including the Mayor, who is elected countywide.
