ATLANTIC BEACH, Fla — Five years after joining the Rebuild Florida program, Christopher Corson says his house is still riddled with problems.
Corson’s Atlantic Beach home was damaged by Hurricane Irma in 2017. He was hopeful the state’s program to repair and replace homes damaged by the hurricane would help him, but he says it’s been one problem after the next.
“We're just tired of it. It's been five years of nothing but messes, constant messes,” Corson said. “They say, well, it's a process. You gotta let them do this and then if it don't work out, then we'll do something different. And the whole time is costing taxpayers money. It's ridiculous.”
He has a list of problems. "I mean exterior, interior,” Corson said pointing to a stack of paperwork detailing his years-long struggle to get his house repaired. “It’s just ridiculous. What you have to go through to try and get your house fixed... The biggest issue is the water getting in the house.”
The state launched the Rebuild Florida program to help some of the most vulnerable residents get their homes repaired or replaced at no cost to the homeowner. Corson, who is disabled, is one of about 4,000 applicants who joined the Irma program.
“The roof has been done like five times. The first time they did it, they tore it off completely like they said they would, but then they went ahead, and they didn't put none of the facia board back up where it was supposed to be,” Corson said.
When we visited his home in June, he pointed out the problems, including where water has seeped inside.
“The vinyl, the soffit, there are gaps there. The pieces are cut too short. If we get a good enough wind it will blow it all off in multiple places around the house,” Corson said.
He, like dozens of homeowners we’ve spoken with, is concerned taxpayer money is being wasted.
“If the program had worked the way it was supposed to, then I think would have been alright, but the way it's going and all the mistakes and what have you, it's costing the taxpayers way more money than it should have,” Corson said. “By trade, I am a carpenter. And they did a bad job, they really did a bad job. My wife caught guys putting the shower back together. They had it on YouTube to see how to do it.”
Ten weeks later we visited his home again, and he showed us more problems.
“We are still getting water in the house. Now they are going more extreme. You can see where they have taken tons of dirt out,” Corson said, pointing to what he describes as a moat dug in his yard to try to keep the water out of his house.
“I'm 100% disabled and I'm scared to even walk in our backyard. We can't even let our dog out, haven't been able to for like five weeks now,” Corson said.
Corson is also concerned about another hazard in his yard.
“Here’s the damage they've done to the power line, and the wire is damaged also,” Corson said. “I'm scared. I don't know if it's gonna cause a fire. They've damaged the wire. I mean, I don't know if it's gonna cause a fire or what. I worry about it all the time, and they say they can't get a permit.”
Inside his house he says it smells like a sewer. He and his wife believe their house is making them sick.
“Behind this wall I am scared when we tear this sheetrock out it is just slap full of mold. There’s no doubt in my mind,” Corson said.
We are working to get a mold inspector out to his test home.
All he wants is his house fixed and the problems resolved.
“I think it's making us sick, but we can't afford to go stay nowhere. I wish we could cause I wouldn't stay here.”
FloridaCommerce oversees the Rebuild Florida program. For more than a month the only response we’ve gotten from FloridaCommerce to our numerous emails is “Looking into this for you.”
We've also requested the contract for the new company the state hired to administer this program after the contract for the initial contractor expired in July. Our public records request has yet to be answered. We will continue to press for answers.
If you have a news tip about the Rebuild Florida program, email hcrawford2@firstcoastnews.com.