TAMPA, Fla. — Nearly two years after Hurricanes Helene and Milton struck Florida less than two weeks apart, more than 60 families are still waiting for help to fix damaged homes.
According to the nonprofit group Hurricane Help Florida, these families remain on the waiting list for its Hope Rising Rebuild & Resilience Program. The homeowners need major repairs, including new roofs, mold removal, and interior rebuilding.
Due to funding limits, the organization cannot take on every project at once. The Hope Rising program supplies building materials and basic household items, connects residents with vetted contractors, and helps them find other recovery aid.
Current applicants include a Tampa family with four children living in a damaged, mold-filled home after an insurance denial, as well as another Tampa household with children and a disabled relative dealing with ongoing safety hazards. In St. Pete Beach, an uninsured senior is living with mold, an active roof leak, and unusable rooms while waiting for aid from Pinellas Recovers…