ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — A public comment period is open until June 23 for St. Petersburg residents who want to weigh in on the city’s draft action plan on how it will spend $159 million in federal funds for hurricane recovery.

The draft plan shows most of the money from a U.S. Dept. of Housing and Urban Development Community Development Block Grant - Disaster Relief will go towards housing. It says $105 million will be used for programs to help residents elevate their homes, assist home buyers with down payments and other costs of purchasing a house, and a voluntary buyout program. The next highest amount, $25 million, is allocated for a public infrastructure mitigation program.

“While housing remains the City’s primary recovery priority (66% allocation), strategic infrastructure investments - and complementary funding for public services (12%) - are crucial to ensuring a resilient and sustainable recovery across St. Pete,” the plan states.

The money is meant for residents impacted by Hurricanes Idalia and Helene. Shore Acres is among the neighborhoods hit hard by both storms.

“Everybody can tell you the same story. You can just knock on every door on this street and that street and every street above it, and you’re gonna hear exactly the same story,” said Barry Rubin.

But even after nearly 30 years of living in flood-prone Shore Acres, Rubin said Helene marked the first time damage from rising waters were part of his story.

“It was utter chaos. It was just absolute destruction,” Rubin remembered of his impression after opening his front door for the first time after Helene.

His home has come a long way since September.

“So, we just had a new kitchen come in. We still have some work to do here,” Rubin said.

Rubin said he isn’t the only one among his Shore Acres neighbors still making repairs as hurricane season approaches.

“I’m nervous, but I’m always nervous. I’m very concerned for our community,” he said.

The draft plan mentions more than 1,200 Shore Acres homes were flood during Idalia in 2023. It also includes a photo of the neighborhood covered with water after Helene.

“Our position in Shore Acres is that this money should go strictly to infrastructure,” said Kevin Batdorf, president of the Shore Acres Civic Association.

The draft plan’s executive summary says it was put together based on public input and an unmet needs assessment, and housing was found to be the most pressing need. Batdorf said there are other programs that already address housing.

“We can still provide homeowner assistance or rental assistance by fixing the infrastructure so homes don’t flood,” said Batdorf.

He said photos from the civic association’s Facebook page showing water-covered streets on Tuesday highlight one ongoing issue.

“It’s sunny, there’s no rain, there’s no storm, there’s no king tide. The streets of Shore Acres were flooded today. Why is that? That needs to be fixed,” said Batdorf.

“Now, at a storm surge, we have a real problem,” said Rubin. “So, yes - nervous? Yes. Concerned? Yes. But hopeful - hopeful that there are better days ahead.”

According to the city, one of the requirements from HUD is that allocations are proportional to the unmet need, and housing was found to be the greatest of those. It says HUD also specifies that 70% of all funds must go to residents considered low-to-moderate income.

English and Spanish versions of the draft action plan, as well as information on how to provide written public comment and attend upcoming public meetings, can be found on the city’s website — https://www.stpete.org/government/initiatives___programs/sunrise_st_pete.php