Pasco Reporter

Pasco County is set to receive $585,704,000 from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) as part of the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG)-Disaster Recovery program. This funding comes in response to damage caused by Hurricanes Idalia, Helene, and Milton. The allocation was included in the Disaster Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act of 2025, enacted on December 21, 2024.

U.S. Congressman Gus Bilirakis played a key role in securing these funds by advocating for $12 billion in CDBG-Disaster Recovery resources due to significant damage in his district from recent hurricanes. On December 24, 2024, Bilirakis requested that HUD issue a direct allocation to Pasco County. He outlined plans for using the funds to assist low and moderate-income residents through affordable housing strategies, stormwater improvements, infrastructure projects for resiliency enhancement, and economic development initiatives for small businesses employing local residents.

Pasco Board of County Commissioners Chair Kathryn Starkey commented on the impact of this funding: “This amount of funding – over a half billion dollars – is extraordinary,” she said. "Thousands of low-income Pasco County residents affected by recent hurricanes could benefit from this assistance."

In addition to Pasco County's allocation, Florida received $925,394,000 for counties and municipalities not receiving direct allocations from HUD. Congressman Bilirakis will collaborate with state partners to support Hernando and Citrus counties' needs.

“The tremendous need in our community as we seek to recover and prevent future loss is undeniable,” stated Bilirakis. “I’ll never stop fighting on behalf of my constituents.”