Residents question how grant decisions were made after hundreds of denials

Florida’s new Elevate Florida program—launched to help homeowners raise properties at risk of flooding—has left many disappointed after its first round of funding. Of the more than 12,000 applications submitted, most are now being met with rejection letters. Only a fraction of applicants have been moved forward for FEMA review.

The math was never in homeowners’ favor. The pilot program was designed to elevate 2,000 homes with a $400 million budget—meaning at least 10,000 applicants were destined for denial from the start.

In Shore Acres, a low-lying St. Petersburg neighborhood frequently hit by flooding, hundreds of residents applied with high hopes. Many believed their homes, having flooded multiple times, would meet the state’s eligibility criteria. But now, many are finding out they didn’t make the cut.

Ashlen McIntire, who recently returned to her family home after nearly a year of displacement, is still waiting to hear back.

“We just moved back in about a week and a half, two weeks ago,” she said. “We want to stay here, but we can’t if it’s going to keep flooding. Our house needs to be raised.”

The McIntires are among the 550 Shore Acres homeowners who applied. Some have progressed to the next stage. Many others have been rejected.

“It’s nerve-wracking,” McIntire said.

Kevin Batdorf, president of the Shore Acres Civic Association, said residents are discouraged and confused.

“It’s heartbreaking,” he said. “You put so much effort into applying, thinking your home qualifies—and then you get the rejection letter.”

Applicants say they met the published criteria:

• Properties with repetitive or severe repetitive flood loss
• Damage from Hurricanes Debby, Helene, or Milton
• Homes in FEMA-designated Special Flood Hazard Areas
• Structures deemed substantially damaged by local officials
• Primary, single-family residences

Yet even neighbors with seemingly identical flood histories have received different responses.

“If 8,000 out of 12,000 applicants had three or more floods, how were those final decisions made?” Batdorf asked. “Right now, it feels like names were pulled from a hat.”

Still, some in Shore Acres are cautiously optimistic.

“People need to remember—it’s still a win,” one resident said. “A lot of our neighbors are still in. Maybe it’s not your time, but your time could still come.”

As of July, state officials say 800 applicants had advanced to FEMA review. The Florida Division of Emergency Management has not yet confirmed whether the original 2,000-home target still stands or how many applications are still under consideration.

According to the state’s website, Elevate Florida considers high-risk areas and application clusters when determining priority. The site also notes that while the program works with applicants to ensure eligibility—or transfer their request to another eligible project type—some applications will ultimately not qualify.

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