ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — More than a year and a half after back-to-back hurricanes devastated parts of Tampa Bay, homeowners accepted into a state-funded program designed to speed up flood recovery say they are still waiting — and in some cases, losing patience.
Elevate Florida, a $400 million program intended to help homeowners elevate flood-prone houses, was created to cut red tape and reduce the years-long recovery process many residents previously faced. But residents in Shore Acres, one of the hardest-hit neighborhoods, say progress has stalled as applications await federal review.
Jason Nash is among roughly 2,000 applicants statewide accepted into the program, yet he has not received final approval and still cannot begin repairs…