Pinellas County Offers Pop-Up Disaster Recovery Assistance

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Pinellas County is hosting a series of pop-up events in Dunedin and Palm Harbor to provide residents with in-person assistance in applying for hurricane recovery grants and permits. The sessions will connect homeowners, renters, and landlords with case managers who can help them navigate the application process for the county's People First Hurricane Recovery program, which offers up to $375,000 in aid.

Why it matters

Many Pinellas County residents are still struggling to recover from the damage caused by recent hurricanes Idalia, Helene, and Milton. These pop-up events aim to make the recovery process more accessible by bringing case managers directly to the affected communities, helping residents overcome the confusion and paperwork hurdles that have slowed down the disbursement of disaster relief funds.

The details

The pop-up sessions will be held at the Dunedin Community Center on March 30-31 and at White Chapel/Harbor Hall in Palm Harbor on April 2. Case managers will be available to help residents apply for the five programs that make up the People First Hurricane Recovery initiative, which can provide up to $15,000 in reimbursement for storm-related costs and up to $375,000 for home repairs and rebuilding. The sessions will also offer on-site permitting assistance for residents of unincorporated areas.

• The Dunedin pop-up will be held on Monday, March 30 from 4-7 p.m. and Tuesday, March 31 from 10 a.m.-1 p.m.
• The Palm Harbor pop-up will be held on Thursday, April 2 from 10 a.m.-1 p.m.

What’s next

Residents can start an application for the People First recovery programs online or by calling the intake line. They can also attend the pop-up events to get in-person assistance with the application process.