The city of Tampa has launched an online portal to distribute $3.2 million in hurricane relief funds, offering financial assistance to homeowners impacted by hurricanes Helene and Milton. The program, which opened Monday, March 24, aims to help residents recover from the estimated $750 million in damages caused by the storms. Tampa Mayor Jane Castor acknowledged the funding is limited but emphasized its importance. “While it is $3.2 million, it’s not going to solve all the needs of our community. We are doing everything we can to help those individuals, families and businesses devastated by these two events to get back on their feet,” she said. The relief program, funded through the State Housing Initiatives Partnership (SHIP), provides three types of assistance: up to $5,000 for mortgage expenses, $10,000 for insurance deductibles and $20,000 for home repairs. Eligible applicants must be homeowners within Tampa city limits and meet income requirements — up to $133,700 annually for a family of four. Abbye Feely, Tampa’s director of development and growth management, explained the streamlined two-step application process. “We’re doing this in a way to expedite so that people are not going through a whole big application and then finding out they’re not eligible for these funds,” she said. Residents like Kathy Kaestner, who faced unexpected flooding due to city pump failures during the hurricanes, expressed hope for relief.