Deadline Approaching for Hurricane Damage Relief in Lee County

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The deadline for homeowners in Lee County, Florida to apply for the LeeCares program, which provides disaster relief funding for damage caused by Hurricanes Helene and Milton in 2024, is March 31, 2026. The program is funded through the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development's Community Development Block Grant–Disaster Recovery (CDBG-DR) and is still reviewing applications, assessing damage, and providing support for reconstruction, rehabilitation, and mobile home replacement across the county.

Why it matters

The LeeCares program is a critical resource for homeowners in Lee County who experienced significant damage from the 2024 hurricanes. With the application deadline looming, it's important for affected residents to be aware of the program and take advantage of the available funding before the portal closes.

The details

Homeowners can apply for LeeCares assistance and review program details at www.leeflcares.com. The program is also offering in-person support at the LeeCares Intake Center, open weekdays from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. at 9400 Gladiolus Drive, Suite 270, in Fort Myers. In addition to the LeeCares program, Lee County is also proposing amendments to its CDBG-DR Action Plans for both Hurricane Ian and the 2024 hurricanes, which would allow for greater flexibility in funding allocation and an additional $2.4 million for the Sanibel Captiva Road and Captiva Drive Resiliency project.

• The deadline for LeeCares applications is March 31, 2026.
• The application window for Hurricane Ian-related damage closed in December.

What’s next

The Lee Board of County Commissioners has opened a 30-day public comment period for the proposed amendments to the CDBG-DR Action Plans for both Hurricane Ian and the 2024 hurricanes. Residents can provide feedback or ask questions online, by email, or by mail.