Millions available for unmet needs for hurricane survivors

SOUTH VENICE — Just weeks after an assessment was completed on who still needs help after Hurricane Ian and then Hurricane Nicole battered the region, another assessment will be done by Sarasota County.

During the recent online Sarasota County Long Term Recovery Group meeting, members learned about a new $201.5 million Resilient SRQ Community Development block grant, a program being created by Sarasota County.

Earlier this year, the United Way of South Sarasota County created the Sarasota County Long Term Recovery Group made up of nonprofits in Sarasota County.

The group has more than $4 million to spend helping hurricane victims. To begin the process, members partnered with World Renew Disaster Response Services and then World Renew volunteers met with residents.

After meetings in North Port and Venice, World Renew estimates the unmet needs of residents is about $17,000 per household. Residents are struggling with temporary housing while damage home is being repaired, delays in supplies, insurance companies going bankrupt, court battles with insurance companies and medical issues.

The next step is for the group to match hurricane survivors with case workers.

United Way of South Sarasota President Barbara Cruz said The Salvation Army and St. Vincent de Paul have six disaster case workers working with the survivors by June. The group is also working on mental health and spiritual services for residents.

Career Source Economic Development Director Karima Habity said there's about $1 million available to help with disaster programs through the Sarasota center.

Laurel Varnell and Steve Hyatt, of Resilient SRQ Disaster Recovery Community Development Block Grant, said the grant is for six years with a potential for extensions if necessary. It came from FEMA, bypassed the state and was given directly to Sarasota County. In late June, there will be North Port meetings for residents in need.

There is a survey on the county's webpage to help create a plan on how the millions should be used on unmet needs. Once that data is collected, the county will submit a plan to the Sarasota County Commission and Housing and Urban Development for approval.

In January, the county can begin taking applications for the unmet needs.

Funds will be used for restoration of infrastructure and housing, economic revitalization, and mitigation with a focus on homeowner assistance to low-to-moderate- income people.

Money can be used for federal match programs, relocation of public facilities and improvements to bridges water treatment facilities, roads, sewer and water lines.

That's good news for some North Port residents who went to the unmet needs sessions and explained most of the homes flooded in the Country Club Ridge neighborhood after the Blue Ridge Waterway overflowed.

The grant can also be used for activities that improves the resiliency of an area, infrastructure, home or facility against future hazards.

The long-term recovery group doesn't want residents to become confused about the two different programs. The long-term group is working with homeowners and renters in need and hopes to get them help in the next few months.

The county's new program is for needs that may take years to fix such as new affordable housing construction, buyout programs and activities that address economic impacts caused by the hurricanes and attracting and retaining businesses and jobs.

The group meets virtually at 9 a.m. on the last Friday of the month. For more information, call 941-484-4811.

Anyone interested in filling out the county Resilient SRQ survey beginning June 2 can visit scgov.net/ResilientSRQ.