ST. PETE BEACH, Fla. — Wednesday night will be the final stay for many hotel guests who have been using money from a FEMA program to fund their room costs while their hurricane-damaged homes are under repair.

For the last 180 days, those who were seriously impacted by the hurricanes have had access to FEMA’s Transitional Sheltering Assistance (TSA) program.

Sara Zuckerman with the office of FEMA External Affairs said the agency is granting two-week extensions on a case-by-case basis only if they can determine that the person impacted still meets eligibility requirements.

What You Need To Know

  • Majority of people using FEMA’s Transitional Sheltering Assistance told April 9 is final day

  • FEMA granting two-week extensions on case-by-case basis

  • FEMA representatives say "a decent amount of individuals" will be impacted 

  • MORE: Temporary Housing Assistance

St. Pete Beach resident Andrea Simhony has been using FEMA’s TSA program for the last few months. She says she’s scrambling to try to make a plan on where to go after checkout Thursday morning.

“They told me to go in a shelter… I’m not going in a shelter,” she said. “The work at my home is in progress. I just need a few more days and I can’t reach anyone from FEMA who will listen to my situation.”

Simhony has been staying at the Plaza Beach Hotel in St. Pete Beach, along with 62 others impacted by the hurricanes. The hotel’s owner says of the 63 guests using the FEMA program to cover their costs, 11 have been granted extensions.

Simhony said after waiting months to get building permits from the city, she had to wait longer for contractor availability. Work is in now progress with contractors at her home daily, she said, but she needs another week before she can move back in.

Simhony said with the cost of repairs, there’s nothing left to front the hotel tab that FEMA has been covering.

“I still have my condo fee to pay as well and electric over there,” she said. “It’s too much.”

Kevin Sheftic, who had to gut his St. Pete Beach apartment after it flooded in Hurricane Helene, has a similar story. He said following the storm he was homeless and sleeping on the beach until got FEMA housing funds.

“I’d be back in my place if it hadn’t been for the building permit delays,” he said.“There’s hundreds of people like us in the same position and no, it’s not our fault.”

Both Simhony and Sheftic said they haven’t had any luck reaching the governor’s office or local elected officials regarding their situation and they fear their pleas for help are falling on deaf ears.

“It’s just been a lot of anxiety. I did speak with FEMA and there’s apparently nothing more they can do,” Sheftic said. “I emailed the governor’s office, I emailed a number of state representatives but no replies yet.”

FEMA representatives ask that those who believe they are still eligible for FEMA assistance but have received a notice of ineligibility call the FEMA Helpline at 800-621-3362.

Those who are no longer eligible for the TSA program have been sent a list of resources and housing programs, provided by FEMA.