Disaster Assistance Grant

 To receive assistance the homeowner and property must meet all eligibility requirements. Those requirements, include, but are not limited to:

• • Home MUST have sustained documented damage during Hurricane Helene, which impacted Clearwater on September 27, 2024 and/or Hurricane Milton, which impacted Clearwater on October 10, 2024.
  • Property MUST be located in the CW, CWD or CWDO Tax District of Clearwater.
  • Property MUST be homesteaded and owner-occupied (Not applicable to rental assistance).
  • Just Value of the property cannot exceed $481,176 as shown on the Property Appraiser's Website.
  • Claims must be filed with your insurance company and FEMA prior to applying for City of Clearwater disaster relief.

  Recipient Selection Criteria

  • First qualified, first served
  • Household income must not exceed 120% of Area Median Income (AMI), priority shall be given to households with income at or below 80% of AMI.
  • Priority shall be given to persons who have special housing needs and individuals or household that qualify as Elderly as defined in 420.503, F.S.
  
  

  Household Size	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8
  Income	$80,280	$91,680	$103,200	$114,600	$123,840	$132,960	$142,200	$151,320

  If your annual household income EXCEEDS the limits listed above, you WILL NOT qualify.

Disaster funds may be used for to pay for the following activities:

1. Repairs necessary to avoid further damage to the home, tree debris removal required to make the individual housing unit habitable and avoid further damage.
2. Reimbursement for emergency supplies purchased between the dates of September 27, 2024, and October 24, 2024, used to weatherproof damaged homes. Supporting documentation justifying the purchase(s) is required and could include, but is not limited to, photo documentation, professional inspections and proof of loss of electricity.
3. Payment of insurance deductibles for rehabilitation of homes covered under insurance policies. A letter will be provided to the Insurer and Contractor that the city will pay the deductible amount. The City will provide direct payment of the final draw equal to the insurance deductible or up to $10,000.00 (whichever is less) to the licensed/insured contractor.
4. Rental Assistance: To be used for displaced households for up to three months and any security deposit fees. These funds shall be paid directly to Landlords.
5. Costs associated with temporary offsite storage of household items during the active construction/rebuild period of a damaged home. Unit agreements must be dated after September 27th to receive reimbursement. Applicable documentation to justify offsite storage needs will be required.
6. Inspections to determine life safety concerns, structural issues, and/or the scope of repair work needed attributable to Hurricane Helene or Milton.
7. Other eligible activities as proposed and/or approved by Florida Housing Finance Corporation.

Items eligible for reimbursement under activities 1 and 2 above, include, but are not limited to:

• Tarps to cover roof leaks
• Secure broken windows or doors (including garage) to prevent easy access to homes that may be uninhabitable
• Services to dry out flooded homes
• Removal of damaged household furnishing and belongings (vendors must provide proof of insurance)
• Generators – not to exceed $1,200.00
• Fans/dehumidifiers used to dry out flooded homes 

Applications are currently available in paper format only. They may be downloaded, picked up, or received in the mail.

 Applications may be obtained by:

• Downloading the PDF(PDF, 649KB)
• By mail – Eligible residents can request a copy be mailed by calling 727-562-4030
• Picking up in person:
• • City of Clearwater offices located at 509 S. East Avenue, STE 227
  • All Clearwater library locations

  For additional information or questions, email DisasterAssistance@myclearwater.com or call 727-562-4030

   

Documentation must be provided indicating that the applicant has attempted to obtain all other funding resources before applying for State Housing Initiatives Program (SHIP) grant funding, such as insurance coverage, Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) funds, and any funding available through the Small Business Administration. The City will only allocate SHIP funding towards costs and expenses not already covered by other agencies and entities. In the event there is a substantial wait list to receive funds from another agency or entity (ex. for rent assistance), the City may waive the requirement to first pursue the other funding first.

Documentation Requirements:

• Government issued identification for each household member;
• Copies of FEMA approval or denial award letters and/or filed Insurance claims;
• Proof of occupancy of affected home;
• A copy of homeowners and flood insurance declarations;
• Photographic documentation of damage;
• Receipts or other proof of purchase are required for any purchase reimbursements requests and must be dated between September 27, 2024 and October 24, 2024;
• Quotes from licensed/insured contractors must be provided when funded activities relate to contracted work;
• Income Self-Certification plus 1 proof of income (e.g. social security letter from last the 12 months, 2 recent paystubs); and 1 month's bank statements from all accounts held by each Household member
• Duplication of Benefits form must be executed by all adult household members.