The clock is ticking for residents of Lee County, Florida, who are seeking assistance from the LeeCares Hurricane Ian Housing Recovery Program. The deadline for submitting new applications online or in-person is 5 p.m. on Wednesday, May 15. If you’ve been affected by Hurricane Ian and need help with housing recovery, it’s crucial to act now and explore the Lee Cares Assistance Program before the portal closes.
Lee County is currently working diligently to process over 1,300 applications from individuals and families requesting support. This significant demand highlights the critical need for programs like LeeCares in the wake of devastating events like Hurricane Ian. To ensure that residents were aware of this valuable opportunity, Lee County and its partners proactively reached out to more than 62,000 residents, providing comprehensive information about the Lee Cares assistance program and how it can aid in their recovery journey.
Funding for the Lee Cares assistance program is made possible through the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development’s Community Development Block Grant – Disaster Recovery (CDBG-DR) allocation. This federal funding is specifically designated to help communities like Lee County address the urgent and long-term disaster recovery needs of residents impacted by hurricanes and other major disasters.
Currently, the LeeCares program offers two key avenues for assistance:
- Housing Rehabilitation, Reconstruction, and Elevation Program: This program is designed to support income-eligible homeowners in repairing, rebuilding, and/or elevating their properties that sustained damage from Hurricane Ian. This assistance can be vital for residents looking to restore their homes to a safe and habitable condition and to mitigate future flood risks through elevation.
- Home Purchase Assistance Program: For income-eligible individuals and families looking to relocate or find housing outside of flood-prone areas, the Home Purchase Assistance program offers support for purchasing a qualifying primary residence within Lee County, but crucially, outside of designated flood zones. This program aims to provide safer, more resilient housing options for those most vulnerable to future storms.
For those interested in applying or learning more, it is essential to visit the official program website at www.leeflcares.com. Here, you can find a complete list of eligibility requirements, necessary documentation, and detailed program guidelines. Understanding these requirements is a crucial first step in the application process for the Lee Cares assistance program.
Do you have questions about the Lee Cares assistance program or the application process? Lee County has set up dedicated channels to provide support. You can email your inquiries to [email protected] or call their hotline at 239-382-5453 to speak with a program representative directly.
Once you submit your application for the Lee Cares assistance program, you will be assigned a dedicated case manager. This case manager will serve as your primary point of contact, providing updates on your application status and guiding you through the subsequent steps. It’s important to note that if your application is approved, the funding provided through the Lee Cares assistance program is a grant, not a loan. This means it does not need to be repaid, offering significant financial relief to eligible applicants who comply with the grant terms.
For those seeking even more in-depth information, Lee County provides comprehensive details about its Community Development Block Grant – Disaster Recovery (CDBG-DR) Action Plan, including program allocations, activities, and expenditures on the county’s website at https://cdbgdr.leegov.com. Staying informed about these initiatives is a great way to understand how Lee County is leveraging resources for community recovery.
To stay up-to-date with all the latest news and information from Lee County Government, residents are encouraged to sign up for the county newsletter at www.leegov.com/resources/newsletters. You can also follow Lee County Government on their Facebook page at www.facebook.com/leecountyflbocc for real-time updates and community information.
Don’t delay – the deadline to apply for the Lee Cares assistance program is fast approaching. Ensure you submit your application by 5 p.m. on Wednesday, May 15, to take advantage of this crucial housing recovery support.
