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Front Street Families Back At Home 2.5 Years After EF-3 Tornado

Six families have received their keys and are returning home to Front Street in Century, about two and a half years after an EF-3 tornado devastated much of the area.

State Disaster State Housing Initiatives Partnership (SHIP) program funding was allocated to Escambia County in 2016 to assist income eligible owner occupants with rehabilitation. In August 2016, Quina Grundhoefer Architects was tasked to create replacement housing plans that would fit with the historic guidelines prescribed by the Town of Century historic district as well as meeting approval with the State Historic Preservation Office since the funding was from the state.

“Everyone on Front Street in Century has their keys as of today,” Meredith Reeves, division manager for Escambia County’s Neighborhood Enterprise Division, said. ” We appreciate the various public and private partners that have worked with the county to help us get the homeowners back into their houses after the 2016 tornado.”

Escambia County holds a zero interest, zero payment five-year mortgage on each of the properties. As long as the residents maintain their new home as their primary residence, maintain insurance and pay their property taxes, the mortgages will be canceled at the end of the five year period.

Catholic Charities of Northwest Florida will assist some of the residents this week with furniture and other furnishings.

NorthEscambia.com and courtesy photos, click to enlarge.