We, the undersigned tenants, workers, and community members of Orange County, call on Mayor Jerry Demings and the Orange County Board of County Commissioners to take immediate and decisive action to address our housing affordability crisis amidst the ever-present threat of hurricane season.

No matter our zip code or how much money we make, Orange County residents deserve to recover with dignity when disasters strike. But low-income communities and communities of color in this county know that hurricane season isn't just preparing for the next storm; it’s enduring a constant crisis of displacement, evictions from skyrocketing rent, and the fear that the next disaster will mean we may never return home.

In the last few years, Orlando has withstood a man-made disaster driven by corporate landlords that predates any storm: the nation’s second-highest rent increase. Our demand is clear: direct federal disaster dollars toward building sustainable, permanently affordable housing with union labor. This is how we ensure recovery starts at home for the working families of all backgrounds who are at the heart of Orange County.

But recovery isn’t merely about building houses; it’s creating an economy for us, by us. Community Development Block Grant (CDBG-DR) funds must require contractors to hire Orange County residents first, prioritizing union apprenticeship programs in our hardest-hit neighborhoods. The same residents who survived these storms must have the opportunity to become the skilled workforce that rebuilds them.

This means guaranteeing that contracts paid for with our public dollars provide family-sustaining wages, reliable healthcare, good benefits, and safe worksites for members of our communities. It means transforming survivors into skilled rebuilders with certifications in storm-resistant construction, creating careers that will protect our community and help our families thrive for years to come. Hiring local ensures these recovery dollars stay in our local economy, building long-term resilience instead of lining corporate pockets.

Whether we’re sharing resources before Hurricane Irma or checking in on our neighbors after Hurricane Ian, Orange County residents show up for each other and it’s time that our Board of Commissioners show for us too by fully funding recovery and resilience this hurricane season.

Let’s keep that money in Orange County and build a recovery that honors the dignity of every neighbor… no exceptions. It’s time to use federal relief funds to protect our most vulnerable, invest in our own workforce, and build safer, more resilient communities for everyone.

Sign on to demand a recovery that works for all of us.