- Who: Low- and moderate-income Port St. Lucie homeowners hit by this week’s flooding
- What: Up to $25,000 in forgivable repair loans from a $1 million city fund
- Where: Homes inside Port St. Lucie city limits; pre-applications open Nov. 5
The City of Port St. Lucie is setting aside $1 million to help homeowners repair flood damage, with individual awards of up to $25,000. Pre-applications open at 8 a.m. Thursday, Nov. 5, and the money will be available until the fund runs out.
The city announced the money on Wednesday. It is going into the city’s Disaster Relief Program, which is run through the Neighborhood Services Department and aimed at Port St. Lucie households with low or moderate incomes who need to fix their primary residences. The announcement follows heavy rain earlier in the week that flooded roads across the city, including Southwest Airoso Boulevard, and left some drivers stranded.
How the Loans Work
The funding flows through the State Housing Initiatives Partnership program, known as SHIP, which is paid for by the Florida Housing Finance Corporation. Approved homeowners receive a 0% interest deferred-payment loan, so there are no monthly payments. The city says the loan is forgiven over five years under program guidelines.
What Is Covered and What Is Not
The city says the money can go toward emergency work and other repairs that make a flood-damaged home safe and livable. Eligible costs may include:
- Tree and debris removal needed to make the home habitable
- Homeowner insurance deductibles tied to eligible rehabilitation work
- Temporary repairs to prevent more damage, such as roof repairs, weatherproofing, water extraction, removal of water-damaged materials, emergency plumbing or electrical work, and temporary structural stabilization
All work must be directly connected to the declared disaster and approved by the city before any assistance is provided.
Several items are excluded. The program does not pay for mold or mildew inspection, testing, removal or remediation. A home that needs mold remediation must have that work finished before other approved repairs can begin. Manufactured homes, pools, hot tubs, and illegal or unpermitted work also do not qualify.
Who Qualifies and How to Apply
Applicants must meet the program’s income requirements. They must have owned and lived in their home within city limits for at least one year. The home’s assessed value cannot exceed $560,154, and applicants must be current on mortgage and property tax payments.
Residents can submit a pre-application through the city’s housing website starting at 8 a.m. Thursday. Those who want help can call Neighborhood Services at 772-344-4084 or email Housing@cityofpsl.com. Staff is also available in person at City Hall, 121 SW Port St. Lucie Blvd.
Because the pool is limited to $1 million, the city says the program will close once the money is committed. Homeowners who think they qualify have reason to apply early. For more local updates, see Port St. Lucie news.
