Largo Resident Gets New Home Via Pinellas Recovery Program

Largo resident Melissa Arledge celebrated a new beginning in her home this month, the first to be completely replaced through Pinellas County’s hurricane recovery program. Arledge’s home was nearly destroyed by Hurricane Milton nearly two years ago.

Pinellas County Commissioners Brian Scott and Rene Flowers, County Administrator Barry A. Burton, Largo City Commissioner Michael DiBrizzi, and City Manager John Curp joined Arledge at a ribbon-cutting ceremony. Commissioner Scott highlighted resident perseverance. “Residents like Melissa can attest that persevering through the recovery process isn’t easy, but the patience truly does pay off,” Scott said.

Arledge described her new home as “the best, best blessing that I could have ever received.” She added, “I wake up in the mornings and actually look out the window because it’s like I’m in someone else’s home until I see, oh, it’s on my property. It must be mine!”

The Pinellas Recovers People First programs use Community Development Block Grant Disaster Recovery funds to repair or replace homes damaged during the 2023-2024 hurricane seasons. The Home Rehabilitation/Reconstruction program provides up to $375,000 in construction costs for unrepaired storm damages, bringing existing homes up to code or replacing them.

More than 1,000 households have received assistance through the multimillion-dollar federal recovery program. Construction is underway on dozens of new single-family and mobile homes across Pinellas County.

The county continues to accept applications for a Homeowner Reimbursement program for completed work and a Local Landlord program. The Local Landlord program allows property owners to fix or replace damaged units with a five-year agreement to rent them at affordable rates.

The Pinellas Recovers program serves all county residents except the City of St. Petersburg, which received its own disaster recovery grant.

Residents can apply online at recover.pinellas.gov. Information on income qualifications and required documents is available there. In-person applications are accepted Monday through Friday, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., at 2600 McCormick Drive, Suite 100, Clearwater, and 5000 Park Street, Suite 4, St. Petersburg. Case managers are also available by phone at 727-606-3307 during these hours.

Additional aid for small businesses and nonprofits, and infrastructure investments, will be announced later.