VOLUSIA COUNTY, Fla. — The Transform386 program opened the first information session in Volusia County at 9 a.m. Tuesday. The program’s goal is allocating more than $328 million to help with recovery efforts in the county after Hurricane Ian.

What You Need To Know

  • Transform386 is a Housing and Urban Development program which allocated $3 billion nationwide for disasters taking place in 2022

  • Homeowners can receive money for recovery projects, or get reimbursed for ones already paid for

  • There are several requirements in order to receive funding, including some that are income-based

The Transform386 program is for homeowners who experienced damage during Hurricane Ian, including both those who need help to repair their homes, or to be reimbursed for projects already completed.

Earlier this year, the county received $328 million in hurricane recovery funding from the Department of Housing and Urban Development.

While some money will go directly toward homeowners, the Volusia County Council will use other funds. The money must benefit those with low and moderate incomes. Upper-income residents can still receive funds if 70% of the program benefits low or moderate income recipients.

To qualify, money must be used for projects that have an urgent need, particularly ones that pose a threat to health or welfare. The project must also aid in addressing a “slum” or “blight.”

“Times are hard. There’s a lot of people out there struggling,” said Clayton Jackson, activity project manager. “It’s not just people who have the financial means or resources, but contractors are not available. So, there could be a lot of outstanding repairs that someone needs to get done.”

Officials say they are reviewing applications right now, and the sooner people get them in, the better.

Jerry DiTaranto is a Volusia County homeowner who traveled from Deltona in hopes of getting financial help.

“I just didn’t think the water was going to come up that high. I mean, who thinks they’re going to get seven feet of water in their home?” he said.

His home flooded in the middle of the night last year due to the storm surge that Ian brought to the area.

“When you’ve got that kind of water in your house, at 3 in the morning and everything’s black and dark out, you can’t see. I just wanted to save the animals, you know, and everything else is replaceable,” he said.

DiTaranto was joined by dozens of other residents who attended today’s session to learn about the requirements for the program.

Port Orange Mayor Don Burnette said that the information sessions are available to help residents with applications.

“We’re having these organizational meetings to get information out to people so that they come in, find out what they can and cannot do with this, and there are a lot of possibilities,” Burnette said.

Applications are live on the county website now, and won’t close until May of next year.

The link to the application can be found here.

Full eligibility details are listed on the website: https://www.transform386.org/homeowner-recovery/index.stml

For those who need help to apply, representatives from Transform386 will be available at seven libraries from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. on Thursday, November 16. Residents must bring all required documentation with them.

The seven library locations to assist within applications are:

  • Daytona Beach Regional Library, 105 S. Jackie Robinson Parkway

  • DeLand Regional Library, 130 E. Howry Ave.

  • Deltona Regional Library, 2150 Eustace Ave.

  • Edgewater Library, 103 W. Indian River Blvd.

  • New Smyrna Beach Regional Library, 1001 S. Dixie Freeway

  • Ormond Beach Regional Library, 30 S. Beach St.

  • Port Orange Regional Library, 1005 City Center Circle