Manatee County Home Recovery Program: A Guide for Homeowners
If your Manatee County home was damaged by Hurricane Debby, Helene, or Milton and you have not finished repairs, you may now qualify for a federal-funded recovery program that pays for the work.
The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) awarded Manatee County $252,711,000 in Community Development Block Grant : Disaster Recovery (CDBG-DR) funds to address damage from the 2024 hurricanes. The county is administering this funding through Lasting Manatee, which has launched five programs. The largest individual-assistance program is the Home Recovery Program (HRP), dedicated to repairing, rebuilding, or elevating owner-occupied homes.
Watch the official walkthrough
Manatee County and Lasting Manatee published a pre-application walkthrough video that explains the program in plain language:
Application window
The Home Recovery Program pre-application opened May 1, 2026 and runs through June 30, 2026. Submitting a pre-application within that window is required to be invited to file a complete application. The link to apply is on LastingManatee.org : it routes to Manatee County’s official applicant portal at portal.neighborlysoftware.com/dr-manateecounty.
Who can apply
To qualify, you must:
- Have used the home as your primary residence : single-family or manufactured home.
- Have owned and occupied the home during the 2024 hurricanes (Debby, Helene, or Milton).
- Have a household income up to 120% of the Manatee County Area Median Income (AMI).
Eligible activities
- Repairing storm-damaged homes
- Rebuilding destroyed homes
- Replacing damaged manufactured homes (outside the floodplain)
- Elevating or rebuilding homes in flood-prone areas
Available assistance
- Up to $250,000 for repairs
- Up to $450,000 for reconstruction and/or elevation
How the program works
- Homeowners may choose from County-screened contractors. Manatee County maintains an approved list of contractors qualified to do the work; you select from that list (subject to the program’s procurement rules).
- The County pays contractors directly. You don’t write a check and wait for reimbursement : funds flow from the program to the contractor.
- Assistance is structured as a 5-year forgivable loan. No payments are due as long as the home remains your primary residence. After five years the obligation is forgiven entirely. If you sell or move sooner, the loan converts to a true repayable loan.
How applications are prioritized
Once submitted, applications are reviewed and processed in phases based on:
- Household income tier
- Whether household members are under 18, over 62, or have a disability
This means a higher-need household may move through the queue faster than another household that pre-applied earlier.
How to apply
Apply only through the official Manatee County portals:
- LastingManatee.org : the official Lasting Manatee CDBG-DR site (program overview, FAQ, document library, application portal link)
- MyManatee.org : official Manatee County Government website with the CDBG-DR Action Plan and program updates
If you need help, contact the Lasting Manatee office directly:
- Phone: 941-742-4787 (Mon-Fri 8 AM – 4 PM, excluding holidays)
- Email: info@lastingmanatee.org
- Mailing address: Manatee County, Government Relations, Attn: Lasting Manatee, 1112 Manatee Avenue West, Bradenton, FL 34205
No third party (including WrightWay) can submit your application on your behalf.
The other four Lasting Manatee programs
The HRP is one of five programs Manatee County is rolling out under the $252,711,000 CDBG-DR allocation:
- Home Recovery Program (HRP) : owner-occupied repair, rebuild, or elevation (this guide)
- Rental Recovery Program : repair and rehabilitation of rental units (Program Guide published April 28, 2026)
- Buyout and Safe Housing Program : voluntary buyouts of high-flood-risk properties and replacement housing assistance (Program Guide published April 24, 2026)
- Infrastructure Recovery and Resiliency Program (IRRP) : for municipalities and county infrastructure projects ($500K – $50M per project)
- An additional planning/administrative program covering compliance, monitoring, and capacity
If you’re a renter, a property in a high-risk flood zone, or a partnering organization, see lastingmanatee.org/pages/programs for current program status.
How WrightWay fits in
Because the County pays contractors directly under HRP, the contractor must be on Manatee County’s approved/screened contractor list. WrightWay Emergency Services is a Florida-licensed General Contractor (CBC1253650) with IICRC certifications in water, fire, and mold restoration, and we have responded to thousands of Hurricanes Debby, Helene, Milton, and Ian losses across Manatee, Sarasota, Charlotte, and Lee counties.
If you would like a contractor estimate of the unmet repair scope on your home : useful supporting documentation for your application : call WrightWay at (941) 379-8669 for a free assessment. We provide Xactimate-formatted line-item estimates.
Frequently asked questions
When is the application window?
Pre-application opened May 1, 2026 and runs through June 30, 2026. Submitting a pre-application within that window is required to advance to the full application.
Is the Home Recovery Program a loan or a grant?
It is structured as a 5-year forgivable loan. As long as the home remains your primary residence for five years from project completion, no payments are due and the obligation is forgiven entirely. If you sell or move sooner, it converts to a true repayable loan.
How much funding is available per home?
Up to $250,000 for repairs and up to $450,000 for reconstruction and/or elevation, per qualifying home.
Can I still apply if I already received insurance or FEMA payments?
Yes. The program is designed to address unmet recovery needs : costs not covered by insurance, FEMA Individual Assistance, SBA loans, or other prior aid. You will need documentation of those prior payments as part of the application.
How are applications prioritized?
Applications are processed in phases based on household income tier and whether household members are under 18, over 62, or have a disability.
What if I’m a renter, not a homeowner?
The Home Recovery Program is for owner-occupants only. The separate Rental Recovery Program is intended for rental properties. Check lastingmanatee.org/pages/programs for current status.
Does WrightWay help with the application itself?
No. The application is submitted directly to Manatee County through the official portal at LastingManatee.org. WrightWay can provide damage documentation and repair estimates that may support your file, but we do not act as an applicant representative.
What if my home was damaged by Hurricane Ian instead of Debby, Helene, or Milton?
Manatee County’s current Home Recovery Program is funded by the 2024 federal CDBG-DR appropriation tied to Hurricanes Debby, Helene, and Milton. Hurricane Ian (2022) recovery funds were a separate appropriation administered earlier. Contact Manatee County directly for guidance on which program applies to an Ian-related claim.
How do I get started today?
Pre-apply at LastingManatee.org before June 30, 2026. If you would like a free contractor estimate of the unmet repair scope on your home : useful for the application : call WrightWay at (941) 379-8669.
This page is informational and not legal or financial advice. All program details are set by Manatee County and HUD; verify current terms at LastingManatee.org or call Lasting Manatee at 941-742-4787. Source: rendered content from lastingmanatee.org pages /, /pages/hrp, /pages/faq, /pages/timeline, /pages/programs, and /pages/documents, captured 2026-05-08.