Landlords who own small rental properties in Pasco County damaged by Hurricanes Idalia, Helene or Milton can apply for repair assistance as of Thursday, Sept. 17, through the county's Better Future program.

Wesley Chapel is unincorporated and governed by Pasco County, so the program applies directly to rental property owners in the area. The county announced the rental track on X, saying owners of one- to four-unit rental homes are eligible for support. The broader Better Future initiative draws from nearly $586 million in federal Community Development Block Grant-Disaster Recovery funding awarded to Pasco County by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.

The rental track is separate from the homeowner program the county has promoted for months. That individual housing track had approved 459 applications and distributed nearly $6 million in assistance as of mid-September, according to North Tampa Buzz.

Rental owners must meet affordability requirements

To participate, rental property owners must agree to maintain affordable rent limits and meet standard program requirements, the county said in its Thursday announcement. The post did not specify what those rent limits are, how they are calculated or how long they apply.

No maximum award amount for the rental track has been published. No application deadline has been announced.

Housing program has grown steadily since launch

The Better Future program has expanded steadily since its launch. The county raised income limits for the homeowner track to 120% of area median income, or $96,360 for a one-person household and $137,640 for a four-person household, according to Laker/Lutz News.

On Aug. 26, the Board of County Commissioners approved $235.4 million for 20 projects under the Better Future Infrastructure and Mitigation Program, including more than $147 million in federal disaster relief funding. Commission Chair Jack Mariano called the investment "a remarkable chance to turn recovery into resilience" at that meeting, according to a county press release.

In a Sept. 9 post on X, the county said landlords or homeowners who already repaired storm damage on their own may qualify for reimbursement if they have receipts and documentation.

How landlords can apply for assistance

Property owners can contact the Better Future team at 727-228-4936 or visit mypas.co/BetterFuture.