Pasco County leaders have announced the launch of a new community in Holiday, offering temporary housing to approximately 100 storm victims. In July, the county purchased a two-acre property on Grand Boulevard with plans to create a temporary homeless shelter. However, following Hurricanes Helene and Milton, the need for housing became more urgent.

Cathy Pearson, Pasco County’s Assistant County Administrator for Public Services, explained, “When Hurricane Helene hit, we had almost 500 people in shelters. Where were we going to put these folks? Then Milton hit, and we had over 5,800 people in shelters.”

The county partnered with Catholic Charities to quickly establish Pasco Hope, a community now ready to take in some of the county’s displaced residents. “This is really about re-housing those who have recently lost their homes,” said Catholic Charities Executive Director Maggie Rogers. “Whether they’re displaced permanently or temporarily, we can assess their needs and help them move on.”

The Pasco Hope community features 25 trailers that can house two people each and 50 single-person pallet homes. Additionally, residents can access separate facilities for laundry, showers, and cooking. Pearson told FOX 13 that several county departments and partner agencies worked together to establish the infrastructure within just three weeks.

Catholic Charities will assist residents in finding permanent housing options, providing computer access, medical support, and mental health counselors. “Many of these folks have lost everything they own,” Rogers noted.

Around 100 Tampa Bay residents are expected to move into the Pasco Hope community soon. While this is a significant first step, the county acknowledges that many other residents still need help. “We’ve been contemplating this because we don’t know how many people in our mobile home parks are still living in uninhabitable conditions,” Pearson said. “The plan is, if needed, we’ll get more trailers from the state and evaluate it on a case-by-case basis.”

Eventually, the Pasco Hope community will transition into a long-term solution for the homeless population. Any Pasco County residents displaced by the storm and in need of housing assistance should contact Pasco Customer Service at (727) 847-2411.

(Image credit: Pasco Hope community)