Blue tarp is acting as a roof for Phillip Mook and his son.

  • Owner Occupied Rehabilitation program in Osceola County
  • Program helps people fix up their home, if they qualify
  • Phillip Mook's home lost its roof in Hurricane Matthew, has not been able to get help

“When the roof fell off, it went over this way all on the neighbor's yard,” Mook explained.

Hurricane Matthew tore off his roof last year and now that hurricane season has started again, he doesn’t know what to do. “I see the rain coming in my house more and more,” Mook said.

“It’s like a swimming pool itself back in this back room, it gets water everywhere,” Mook said.

But the lack of a roof over his head is just one of the many problems weighing him down. Two years ago he lost his family in a home invasion in Ohio, where his wife of 26 years and youngest son were shot.

His oldest son survived the shooting but is dealing with physical and mental repercussions. Mook thought moving here would make things better.

“It gets to the point where it’s so stressful, all the things that have been happening. I just need some kind of relief,” Mook said.

Mook was not eligible for FEMA, as there was not enough damage in the county to make Osceola eligible for Public Assistance programs. Mook said he’s reached out to the Red Cross, the Governor’s Office, United Way and other agencies but to no avail. He said a local church promised to help repair his roof but recently backed out.

However, a program called Owner Occupied Rehabilitation may be able to help Mook. According to the county’s Emergency Management office, after his application is reviewed and the property is inspected, he may qualify.

The program helps homeowners in making sure their home is up to current building codes and is considered safe and sanitary. Osceola County homeowners must have owned and live in the home for at least a year and be eligible under income guidelines. But if they meet those requirements, they can get up to $50,000 in assistance. The information is on the Osceola County website.

“I am out of answers and I need some kind of help and relief to get my life going back again,” Mook added. Mook said he will keep fighting for the little he has left.

If you would like to help the Mook family, go to their GoFundMe page.


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