If your home has suffered significant damage in one of the recent storms that have struck Florida, you might need a temporary housing solution until you can get back on your feet. There's so much to think about when you have to leave your home, including what to take, where you can set up a new residence, what to do about your pets, and how to repair your property. Luckily, help is available to assist you with the extra costs that arise from this upheaval. Here's what you should do to access it and resolve your temporary housing problem.
Check Coverage With Your Insurer
Once the storm is over and you've made sure that everyone is safe, your first call should be your insurance company. If you have coverage for the storm damage and related consequences, your insurer may be able to cover the cost of temporary accommodation and relocation costs. The amount of support you can receive and what it can be used for will vary depending on your insurer and the policy you have, so it's important to talk to them directly to learn all the details.
A major benefit of going through your insurance company is that they may have partners who can assist you locally, with the insurance company taking over all the organizational aspects so you can focus on getting to your new address. However, not everyone will have insurance coverage. This doesn't mean that you have to do without assistance. There are several other options that you should investigate if you're in the unfortunate position of dealing with uninsured damage following a hurricane in Fort Myers or Naples.
Apply for Assistance From FEMA if You're Not Covered
Floridians who don't have insurance coverage for storm damage or whose insurance doesn't cover housing assistance can access support through the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). You can apply for FEMA assistance online or via the agency's app. FEMA has different assistance programs, including the ability to reimburse you if you've had to pay out of pocket for a hotel, motel, or other form of accommodation because your home is unlivable. FEMA also offers longer-term temporary rental assistance if you need a place to live while your home is being repaired or until you find alternative permanent housing.
The Transitional Sheltering Assistance program allows FEMA to provide temporary shelter by working with partnering hotels and other forms of accommodation. Portable housing units can also be made available to applicants if their home is uninhabitable. Finally, there is funding available to make basic repairs to your home so that it is safe to live in, which may be a lifesaver if your insurance doesn't cover the damage.
Local and State-Level Support
In addition to help from the federal government, there are programs available locally that you can explore. The Florida Housing Finance Corporation maintains a webpage with the latest information about assistance programs for temporary housing and other recovery efforts. It promotes the site www.FloridaHousingSearch.org, which is a central hub for available accommodation across the state for people like you who need a temporary place to stay.
Another option offered is the local office of the State Housing Initiatives Partnership (SHIP). This program may be able to disperse funds to help you with relocation, temporary housing, or removing debris from your property following a storm.
Investigate Alternative Options
You may prefer to make your own arrangements on the private marketplace, especially if you find a solution that you can take advantage of immediately. In the aftermath of a disaster, when large numbers of people need help, you sometimes don't have the time to wait for the response to an application for help.
Popular online rental platforms may offer special support for people displaced by hurricanes to help them find housing. Alternatively, there are companies specializing in temporary accommodation in RVs and other moveable housing units. These units can even be set up on your property, if this is possible, so that you can oversee the repair and recovery work. This option also brings the benefit of not having to relocate.
Another alternative is to contact friends or relatives who may be able to put you up for a short period until you find a solution. It does have the advantage that you won't have to pay out of pocket for accommodation costs, although you may have limited space and it may only be an option for a short period of time.
Things To Consider When Securing Temporary Housing
However you secure housing assistance following a hurricane, you'll need to keep several key points in mind. The most important will be the needs of you and your family. As you're in an emergency, you'll want to get accommodation as quickly as possible. But you can't afford to forget your requirements. For example, is the accommodation large enough for your kids and pets? FEMA support is open to both apartments and houses, allowing you to opt for an appropriate size of accommodation, provided it's available.
The challenge of relocating is also a big factor. You'll have to think about the practicality of returning to your job or other obligations from your new location or transporting kids to and from school. For many people, moving far away won't be a long-term option, especially if it results in additional costs due to extra travel on a daily basis.
If you're struggling to afford the extra cost of basic supplies like food and clothing, there are charitable organizations that can help. They include the American Red Cross and other local organizations that make available donations to families or individuals in need.
Next Steps for Your Housing Needs
Once you've made it into temporary accommodation, you can start to think about where you go from there. Questions to consider include whether you're moving back into your home or whether you need a long-term solution while you make extensive repairs. If you've got insurance coverage that provides funding for housing, this decision will be a lot easier for you. Whatever your final decision may be, your new temporary accommodation will offer at least some respite for you and your family members as you look ahead to the future.