Orange County FL Homeowners: Apply Now for Hurricane Ian and Milton Repair Grants

If you own a home in Orange County, Florida that was damaged by Hurricane Ian in 2022 or Hurricane Milton in 2024 — and you still have unrepaired damage — the county has money available to help you fix it.

The program is called Orange County Recovers, and it is still accepting applications right now.

What Is Orange County Recovers?

Orange County Recovers was launched in March 2025. It uses federal money from the Community Development Block Grant Disaster Recovery (CDBG-DR) program. That means the funds are a grant — you do not have to pay them back.

The program can help pay for:

• Home repairs from hurricane damage
• Full replacement of severely damaged homes
• Complete reconstruction if needed

The county recently finished repairing the home of a 64-year-old resident who had been living with a leaking roof and water damage since Hurricane Ian hit in 2022. His repairs included a full roof replacement plus a remodeled kitchen and bathrooms — all paid for through this program.

Who Can Apply?

To be eligible, you must meet all of the following:

• You owned and lived in the Orange County home when Hurricane Ian struck in 2022 or when Hurricane Milton struck in 2024
• You still own the home
• The home has damage from one or both hurricanes that has not been repaired yet
• Your household income falls within low- to moderate-income limits
• Your property taxes are paid (or you are on an approved payment plan)
• Your mortgage has no arrearages

What Documents Do You Need?

When you apply, you will need to show proof of:

• Ownership at the time of the storm (deed, mortgage statement, title, or court order)
• That the home was your primary residence (homestead exemption, FEMA award letter, driver's license, or utility bills from that time)
• Income for every adult in the household (most recent tax return, or recent pay stubs)
• Current mortgage statement with no late payments
• Proof property taxes are current

A program inspector will visit your home to document the storm damage — you do not need to gather that proof yourself.

How to Apply

You can apply in two ways:

Online: Visit orangecountyrecovers.com/apply to start your application.

In person: Visit the intake center at:
Holden Heights Community Center
1201 20th Street, Orlando, FL 32805
Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
(By appointment only — call 321-382-3514 to schedule)

If you have questions before applying, you can also fill out the contact form on the program website and a representative will reach out to you.

Why You Should Apply Soon

Federal disaster recovery funds are not unlimited. Programs like this run until the money is gone. If your home still has hurricane damage and you qualify, the best move is to start your application now rather than wait.

This is real federal money, and it does not need to be paid back. Orange County is specifically looking for homeowners who have been dealing with lingering damage and have not been able to afford repairs on their own.