SEMINOLE COUNTY, Fla. — Seminole County officials are working to combat homelessness in the wake of hurricanes Helene and Milton, securing $303,000 in federal funding to support displaced residents.

The funding comes through the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development’s Rapid Unsheltered Survivor Housing (RUSH) program, which assists individuals at risk of or experiencing homelessness due to natural disasters.

Carrie Longsworth, manager of Seminole County’s Community Assistance Division, said the aftermath of hurricanes often leads to a rise in homelessness as people lose access to stable housing.

“If something happens to that home during the disaster, oftentimes friends and family are no longer able to provide shelter,” Longsworth said. “So, individuals turn to emergency shelters, live in their vehicles, or stay in hotels to get by. We do see an uptick in homelessness when disasters strike.”

The county is working with its local Continuum of Care to connect individuals with resources, including temporary and permanent housing.

While this year’s funding allocation is smaller than previous disaster relief efforts, officials are focused on maximizing its impact.

Following Hurricane Ian, Seminole County used similar funding to assist around 30 individuals with various forms of housing support, including temporary shelter and financial aid.

“We’re in the second phase of spending those dollars,” Longsworth said. “We’ve been able to place families in hotels and provide up to six months of financial assistance to help them transition into permanent housing.”

Seminole County Commissioner Andria Herr emphasized that homelessness is an ongoing challenge.

“It isn’t going away because people will always be in different stages of life, and tragedies happen,” Herr said. “A storm could come, and suddenly you’re one paycheck away from homelessness.”

The Seminole County Board of Commissioners is set to vote Tuesday on how to allocate the latest round of RUSH funding.