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Half Of Century Tornado Recovery Assistance Applications Denied
January 15, 2017
Today marks 11 months since an EF-3 tornado devastated part of the Century area. Many residents without insurance are still working their way through a maze to receive government housing help. Over half the applicants for the largest available assistance program have been denied.
Two major programs — State Housing Initiatives Partnership program (SHIP) and Community Development Block Grants (CDBG) — are the source of government funding for tornado recovery in the Century area. For the purposes of this story, the “Century area” includes all housing damaged during the February 15 tornado, not just housing within the Century town limits but also housing in unincorporated Escambia County.
According to information provided by Escambia County, five CDBG applications have been approved for housing demolition. One $5,500 demolition project has been awarded.
There have been 59 applications for repair, replacement or demolition assistance through the SHIP program. Of those, 27 applications have been approved for a total of $1.8 million while 32 SHIP applications have been denied. Typical reasons for denial, according to county officials, were the client declined assistance, did not respond and had their file closed, was over income guidelines, was not the actual property owner or the property was not actually tornado damaged.
There are no pending SHIP applications. The county is working with some of the denied applicants to refer them to any other possible source of help, including BRACE, the Housing Finance Authority and Rural Development. Some have already been referred or received assistance elsewhere.
Of the SHIP applicants that were approved, 11 of the 27 required legal assistance in order to get approval.
Once an applicant is approved for SHIP or CDBG funding for repair or replacement, they do not directly receive any money. The county puts a contract out for bid and pays for the repairs directly. Some of the SHIP repair jobs have been completed, along with some SHIP and CDBG demolitions. Other SHIP replacement housing is awaiting soil test results, the resolution of legal description inconsistencies or the finalization of housing plans.
NorthEscambia.com file photo, click to enlarge.
Comments
7 Responses to “Half Of Century Tornado Recovery Assistance Applications Denied”
The last comment on this story might just be better off unsaid by me, so on second thought may I retract it. I do not want to do anything to ignite a fuse in Century even intentionally and that might. I truly do hope Century improves in all areas. Thank You
I have been following this story of the Tornado and Century. I researched what it takes to get CDGB funds and SHIP funds and compared Pensacola and Century and the process through Escambia County.
I am intrigued about the Historical District Grants. The info is readily available with online research.
Hats off to Nickles Consulting work for their perseverance and know how. It is a process to say the least.
Yes on a personal level to have no insurance and to have your home damaged or destroyed is heartbreaking I am sure.
I still think though it is not the government’s job to replace a home yet the fact these grants are pursued is fine and even fascinating to me.
But it is not a given, study New Orleans ninth ward post Katrina.
I say don’t look a gift horse in the mouth.
And I believe the attitude that anyone deserves to be given anything for nothing is a way of thought that is long past it’s time.
Look up what Mason Weaver has to say about that. If you see a problem then God has given you the ability to find the solution. Do not just complain and wait for some one to come fix it for you or do it for you.
Give a man a fish, he eats for a day. teach him to fish he takes care of himself.
Century…now is your time..
You can do it.
Just wanted to say, Some of the houses damaged by the tornado, are over 100 years old & no insurance company wanted to insure most of our houses!! Don’t understand why it’s such a big deal with Century getting help, but nobody complained about Pensacola getting help with taxpayers money?! Whenever they got hit after us, but got help before us. Yea Century is a small town & it might not be the best place, but why does that matter when it comes to people going thru something that was traumatic and needing help afterwards to pick up the pieces to build again?! What just because Century ain’t as nice as Pensacola, means we don’t deserve help?!
If Century was a foreign country they would have been already approved, received way more money then needed and it would have done with a stroke of a pen.
Thank you for this information. Glad to see at least half were approved. No doubt this tornado was a tragedy and affected many. Life is a hard teacher and part of the BRACE ideal was to be ready for disaster recovery. I ask myself what lesson can be learned from this–Many–depending upon one’s own point of view. I actually believe the county and town and legal services have specific guidelines, procedures and such that were followed and are still doing things as government can. Yes taxpayer are bailing out and footing the bill, as they do for welfare and food stamp recipients. I believe it best to rent if you cannot insure your home, or if one did not they gambled and unfortunately lost. I believe the county does need to follow through in the very near future with the approval of the new mayor and clean it up. The broken windows theory is real and affects the crime level and pride of the whole town. Anne1 of2, it is not a conspiracy but if someone can afford and maintain a property, they should purchase it and help Century flourish.
could see this coming. in that area i would think that determining who owned the property as opposed to who paid taxes on it, deeds, and existing liens would give a Philadelphia lawyer a migraine.
Then they will get the letter stating their property has been abandoned because they didn’t rebuild. Could be, these people can’t afford to rebuild, then their property has zoning against mobile homes (something they might be able to afford) and this happens when they have continued to pay their property taxes. Looks like a land grab to me and I would love to know who is behind this fiasco. Less than half approved, hmm.