88 Million Dollar
Community Development Block Grant for Flood Disaster Recovery- CDBG-DR

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IT’S HARD TO CARE ABOUT WHAT

YOU DON’T KNOW ABOUT!

That’s why R4R is committed to closing the information gap between government leaders, experts, scientists, and the general public — fostering education, communication, 

advocacy, and collaboration.

Dear R4R Friends,

Flooding continues to be one of the most pressing challenges facing our neighborhoods especially during our rainy season and King Tides. If you have experienced severe flooding in your home—or if you’re concerned about future risks—we’re here to help.

Floodplain Specialist Roderick Scott reminds us:

“Florida is estimated to have over a million older pre-FIRM (built before 1974) buildings in flood zones. NFIP (National Flood Insurance Program) is now halfway to actuarial rates with a decade of annual increases left. Actual risk rates will devalue assets, starving schools and government of needed tax revenues.
Structural elevation is a proven method of flood risk reduction, and it stabilizes property values while engaging all the construction trades.”

👉 Learn more: FEMA Case Study – Flood Mitigation Solutions

To support resilience efforts and help residents rebuild stronger, the City of Fort Lauderdale has been awarded $88 million in federal disaster recovery funds through the Community Development Block Grant – Disaster Recovery (CDBG-DR) program. These funds represent a vital opportunity to not only repair what was lost in the 2023 floods, but also to invest in long-term solutions that make our homes, neighborhoods, and infrastructure more resilient to future storms and sea-level rise

💰 What We Now Know About the $88M in CDBG-DR Funds!

There has been a lot of discussion about the $88 million in Community Development Block Grant – Disaster Recovery (CDBG-DR) funds awarded to Fort Lauderdale following the record-breaking floods of 2023. These funds are intended to provide financial relief for homeowners, support the repair and reconstruction of damaged homes, expand affordable housing, and improve critical drainage systems.

Here are the facts, based on updates from City leadership:

• Allocated but not yet accessible: The $88M has been awarded to the City, but funds cannot be spent until required administrative steps are completed.

• October 21, 2025 deadline: This is when the City must submit its Action Plan to HUD. It is not a homeowner application deadline.

• Next step – HUD approval: Once HUD approves the City’s Action Plan, projects in the plan will open for public applications, including homeowner assistance.

• City Hall concerns: Any use of funds for City Hall repairs would require a special HUD waiver, and only after unmet community needs are addressed

📊 Proposed Allocation Breakdown

🏠 Housing – 46% ($40.44M)

• Homeowner Repair & Reconstruction: $12.44M

• Homeowner Reimbursement: $9.5M

• Affordable Housing: $18.5M

👉 Less than half of the “housing” allocation (about $22M) goes to existing homeowners — far short of what’s needed when elevating a single home can cost $100K–$160K.

👉Another major concern for many homeowners is that Fort Lauderdale’s cost of living and property values are significantly higher than in many other parts of the state so how will they be able to qualify?

⚖️ R4R Recommendation: Adjusting Eligibility to Reflect

    Fort Lauderdale’s Realities

R4R is encourages you to join us in asking City leaders to consider raising the Area Median Income (AMI) eligibility cap from 120% to at least 150%–160%, similar to what other South Florida cities such as West Palm Beach have done. 

Fort Lauderdale’s cost of living, property values, and insurance burdens are significantly higher than average, meaning many middle-income households fall just above the current threshold — yet still struggle to afford vital flood-proofing and elevation measures.

Expanding the AMI cap would ensure that this recovery funding reaches more of the residents who were directly impacted by the 2023 floods, helping protect homes, preserve neighborhoods, and strengthen our city’s overall resilience.

🏗 Infrastructure – 22% ($19M)
Vital for the city’s resilience, but doesn’t immediately help families dealing with flooding today.

🌱 Mitigation – 15% ($13.2M)
Encouraging, but details matter. If this funds homeowner-level retrofits (drainage fixes, floodproofing, resilient landscaping), it could be transformative. If not, homeowners may once again be left out.

💼 Economic Revitalization – 5% ($4.5M)
Modest support for small businesses, despite their central role in recovery.

🤝 Public Services – 5% ($4.5M)
Covers homeless and general services — equal to the cost of administration.

📝 Administration – 5% ($4.4M)
Standard set-aside, but striking that it nearly equals the public services allocation.

October 21 is NOT a homeowner deadline.
It’s the City’s deadline to submit its Action Plan to HUD.
Homeowner applications will only open after HUD approval.

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🔑 What This Means for Residents

• Homeowners cannot yet apply for assistance. Applications will only open once HUD approves the City’s plan.

• The October 7 public hearing is your chance to share input before the plan is finalized.

• R4R is urging the City to prioritize direct homeowner assistance and investments in parks that serve both recreation and stormwater storage.

   

  📝 What Residents Should Know About Applying

  R4R has asked the City for clarification on the criteria residents will need to meet to apply for assistance once HUD approves the Action Plan. While we await final details, here are the most common factors used in similar programs:

  • Income: May prioritize households below a set income threshold.

  • Damage / Unmet Need: Likely must show storm-related damage after insurance/FEMA/SBA.

  • Ownership: Proof that the home is owned and a primary residence.

  • Mitigation: Some programs require homes to be elevated or floodproofed.

  • Cost-Sharing: In some cases, matching funds or contributions may be required.

  • Out-of-pocket reimbursement —In some cases homeowners can apply for reimbursement for out-of-pocket money spent on repairs - as long as it meets the program's eligibility criteria.

   

  📌 Tip: Start gathering documents now (ownership, damage photos, insurance/FEMA records) — these are almost always required.

   

  💧R4R will share the final criteria as soon as they are released.

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📣 How You Can Help

We encourage you to:

• Attend upcoming meetings and hearings.

• Reach out to your elected officials to request more direct homeowner support.

• Support the idea of dual-purpose parks that store floodwater while providing safe recreation.

   

📩 Need help contacting your city, county, or state leaders? Email us anytime at:                           info@residentsforresilience.org.

Together, we can build a stronger, safer, and more resilient future for all. 🌊⛈️💚💦

For more info - watch here -  or check out the PDF ACTION PLAN BELOW - (since it’s long you may want to skip to page 45...)

Warm regards,
Suzee Bailey
Founder, Residents for Resilience (R4R)