Pinellas County is sending recovery case managers to Treasure Island City Hall next Tuesday, offering on-site help for homeowners, renters and landlords trying to finish (or finally start) their Pinellas Recovers applications. The county’s People First programs are designed to tackle lingering damage from the 2024 storms, with awards that range from small disaster relief reimbursements to major rebuilding grants. If your application has hit a wall or you are unsure which papers you are missing, the pop-up is set up for one-on-one help to get your file moving.
Where and when to get help
The county’s pop-up schedule lists Treasure Island City Hall at 10451 Gulf Blvd. on Tuesday, from 4:30 to 8 p.m., with case managers on hand to walk applicants through forms and required documentation, according to Pinellas County. The Treasure Island visit is one stop in a series of pop-up events across Pinellas this spring to make in-person assistance easier to reach.
County message and who to expect
Treasure Island Vice Mayor Tammy Vasquez appears in a short reel on Facebook promoting the pop-up and emphasizing that the recovery dollars are “grants, not loans.” Vasquez serves as the city’s vice mayor, according to local coverage by The Gabber.
What the programs cover
The county’s People First rollout is backed by roughly $813 million in federal CDBG-DR funds and includes programs that can pay up to $375,000 to rehabilitate, rebuild or relocate a primary residence. Similar awards are available to landlords to restore affordable rental units, while reimbursements and other smaller awards can cover costs such as rent, mortgage payments and utilities, according to reporting by Axios Tampa Bay. The package also includes homeowner reimbursement options and homebuyer assistance that provide smaller, targeted payments for documented expenses.
Will FEMA or insurance stop you?
Getting money from FEMA or a private insurance policy does not automatically knock you out of the running, but federal rules require a Duplication of Benefits review and the county must be sure CDBG-DR funds cover only unmet needs, as laid out in the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development’s Universal Notice. That review means the county will check what assistance you have already received and may adjust grant amounts so the same damage is not paid for twice.
How to apply and what to bring
You can start an application at the county’s recovery portal recover.pinellas.gov, call the recovery helpline at 727-606-3307, or visit a permanent intake center in Clearwater or St. Petersburg. Bring whatever paperwork you already have, including a photo ID, FEMA letters, insurance documents, photos of damage and receipts for repairs. Case managers at the pop-up events can help you open an application, walk you through the next steps and explain which follow-up documents you will need to submit.
