State will provide temporary housing for Volusia's Tropical Storm Ian victims

DAYTONA BEACH — Good news for Tropical Storm Ian survivors who have been slogging through a lot of bad news: Free housing is on the way.

The Florida Department of Emergency Management is distributing travel trailers and recreational vehicles to Volusia County residents whose homes are uninhabitable because of damage from Tropical Storm Ian.

Those who receive the temporary housing will only be able to use the trailer or RV for a maximum of six months, but they'll at least have a safe place to live that doesn't drain their finances while they figure out a more permanent solution.

The state is purchasing new RVs and trailers, and all units are being inspected to ensure they are safe and ready for occupancy prior to people moving in, said Alecia Collins, communications director for the Florida Division of Emergency Management.

The temporary housing will come equipped with air conditioning, refrigerators and necessary appliances. Furniture will include a table with seating and mattresses for sleeping areas.

It's not clear when the housing will be available.

"The state is working to review applications for eligibility and conducting site inspections for travel trailer placement as quickly as possible," Collins said.

Who can apply for a mobile home?

There is no income limit for displaced storm victims interested in the temporary housing program, but applicants will have to meet several criteria to qualify.

The damaged residence must be located within one of the 26 FEMA-designated counties. 

The applicant must be the homeowner or renter of the damaged residence. The residence must be uninhabitable due to damage sustained by September's Hurricane Ian.

How catastrophic flooding from Tropical Storm Ian impacted one Daytona Beach neighborhood:Low elevation makes Daytona's Midtown vulnerable to chronic flooding

Will Tropical Storm Nicole damage steer tourists and potential new residents away from Volusia County?:Will coastal Volusia's Tropical Storm Nicole rubble steer tourists and homebuyers elsewhere?

Read more about the impacts of Tropical Storms Ian and Nicole:Daytona Beach residents fed up with persistent flooding

Another program might be coming for November's Hurricane Nicole victims, but for now the housing is only for Ian survivors.

"We have submitted a request for a major disaster declaration that includes individual assistance for survivors of Hurricane Nicole," Collins said. "We are waiting to hear back on that."

The applicant can't already be eligible for or receiving housing assistance from FEMA or a nonprofit housing program.

The applicant must have a valid FEMA registration number. For residents who intend to apply, but do not have a valid FEMA registration number, an application must first be submitted at disasterassistance.gov, through FEMA’s mobile app or by calling 800-621-3362. 

The state housing program is most interested in placing the travel trailers and RVs on private property. If a resident qualifies for a trailer or RV, an assessment team will visit the proposed location to place the temporary housing unit.

On private sites, the trailers and RVs will be connected to a household's existing utilities on the property. In commercial parks, the units will also have utility hookups.

If the property is located within an incorporated city, interested Volusia County residents can contact the appropriate departments within the city to determine if the mobile housing is allowed.

If the site is approved, the resident will enter into a contract and provide information to a state contractor who will coordinate with appropriate permitting authorities and utility companies.

To learn more about the housing and apply, visit ianrecovery.fl.gov/unite or call 800-892-0948.

On Monday, Florida Division of Emergency Management Director Kevin Guthrie joined Gov. Ron DeSantis and First Lady Casey DeSantis in Punta Gorda to announce state funding for building materials to allow verified volunteer organizations to conduct temporary and permanent repairs on homes damaged by Hurricane Ian.

During the event, Guthrie announced that the first travel trailer in the new state-led temporary housing and sheltering program has been placed on Pine Island in Lee County. The impacted family will move into the temporary unit once Lee County completes its final safety inspections. 

"Moving impacted families into these temporary units on their own property allows them to remain in their communities and take the time to fix their damaged homes or find other permanent housing solutions," Guthrie said.

You can reach Eileen at Eileen.Zaffiro@news-jrnl.com.