'Just amazing': Daytona Beach residents get roof through Tropical Storm Ian loan program
Longtime Daytona Beach residents Waymon and Suelene Davis faced a tough situation after Tropical Storm Ian.
The storm ravaged their roof, leaving them with water damage and costly repairs. They didn't qualify for help from "federal resources" or their insurance company, according to Volusia County. Then, their insurance company threatened to cancel their homeowner's coverage if they didn't replace the roof.
But they learned about a loan program that could help, and on Thursday afternoon they gathered outside of their home to celebrate their new roof and other improvements with the team that helped them make it happen.
"Getting a brand new roof on our home, it was just amazing," Suelene Davis said.
The Davis family, with help from the county, used a bridge loan through SBP, a nonprofit disaster recovery organization, that funded the repairs through the Florida Recovery Acceleration Fund.
The program offers loans to people for repairs while they await aid through HUD's Community Development Block Grant-Disaster Recovery program.
Volusia County's program for Tropical Storm Ian recovery is called Transform386. The cost to repair the Davis family's roof is expected to qualify for reimbursement through the program, which will allow them to repay the loan.
"SBP is using the same criteria when they do an income analysis and everything else that matches ours, so there's a very large chance that she's going to be qualified," said Dona Butler, who is leading Transform386 as director of the county's Office of Recovery and Resiliency.
The cost of the repairs was around $35,000, said Brian Deubert, director of construction for the Florida Recovery Acceleration Fund.
"We're just thankful and grateful that it's all done," Suelene Davis said.
Suelene and Waymon Davis raised their family in the community and have lived in the home for over 20 years. They've also served their community according to the county.
Waymon, now retired from construction, donates produce from his garden to needy folks. Suelene, a former bus driver for the city of Daytona Beach, supported staff and residents at a skilled nursing facility and voluntarily provided transportation for older adults.
The county is accepting applications from people who want help paying for Hurricane Ian repairs, or who would like to seek reimbursement for expenses. For information about help available for Hurricane Ian recovery go to transform386.org or call 386-943-7029.
This article originally appeared on The Daytona Beach News-Journal: Daytona Beach residents hurt by Ian get new roof thanks to program
