President Donald Trump came to Panama City Beach Wednesday. In his campaign rally he promised $448 million in housing funds for the area, which continues struggling seven months after Hurricane Michael hit North Florida.
Jackson County resident Rachel Conrad came out to hear the President speak. She’s still living with friends after her house was destroyed in the storm and says she doesn't know when she'll be able to afford a place of her own again.
“Everybody’s jacking up prices," she said. "Big companies came in and bought all the houses, we already had a housing shortage, everybody was renting. And now we have an extreme housing crisis. And President Trump and his daughter Ivanka, with the Trump hotels, if somebody would come in and build something, we would be so grateful.”
President Trump addressed the issue during his campaign rally, telling a crowd of some 10,000 people more federal money is on the way.
"Tonight I am pleased to announce our administration is $448 million in HUD [Housing and Urban Development] disaster recovery funds for the great people of Florida. These dollars will help communities get back on their feet," he said.
No details about how and when the money will be disbursed were immediately available. The Category 5 storm was among the strongest to ever strike the U.S. It decimated housing stock across the region.
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