Alachua County has been awarded a Hurricane Loss Mitigation Program (HLMP) grant by the Florida Division of Emergency Management to assist with hardening or retrofitting single-family homes within Alachua County. This program is not designed to repair homes, but to protect and strengthen homes against strong wind forces such as hurricanes, tropical storms, etc. to aid in minimizing damages.
Examples of eligible retrofit improvements include replacement of roof covering, installation of hurricane straps, installation of hurricane resistant windows and doors, and anchoring of wall or floor units to the foundation. Requirements for the program include, but are not limited to, must reside in Alachua County, must meet income qualifications, must show proof of homeownership, property taxes must be current, the home must be a primary residence, home must be built before 2001, and must have homeowner insurance. Mobile homes, manufactured homes, rental properties, mobile home parks, and multifamily units are ineligible for this program.
Applications and additional information are available at the Alachua County Department of Community Support Services (218 S.E. 24th Street, Gainesville) or the Department of Community Support Services website. Funding is limited. Applications are assessed on a first come, first qualified basis. Completing an application does not guarantee assistance. The deadline for applications is Friday, March 9, 2018. Submit completed applications to the Housing Programs office at 218 S.E. 24th Street, Gainesville, FL 32641.
For more information, contact the Alachua County Housing Programs Division at 352-337-6284 or sweeks@alachuacounty.us.