For months following Hurricane Ian, residents at the Good Samaritan Villages in Daytona, DeLand and Kissimmee, Florida have raised concern to local leaders, claiming to only be receiving limited information regarding repairs and returning home to their properties. Hundreds of residents said they struggled to find another place to stay following the storm and flood damage. Many are still living in hotels and are meeting with legal teams to figure out how to best move forward.
Good Samaritan Villages was known for offering apartments and mobile home lots below market cost, making it a secure place to live for seniors on fixed incomes.
Initially, help was being offered by finding the residents housing and aiding with FEMA assistance.
After Hurricane Ian flooded much of the Village, community residents moved into hotels like the Holiday Inn and the Red Lion before being moved to the Westgate Towers Resort where some still reside. During that time, residents were presented with two documents, one allowing Good Samaritan’s to enter units and empty them, and another was a general release of their rights in exchange for getting their security deposits back. Potential negligence is being investigated on the Good Samaritan Village.
This isn’t the first time Kissimmee Village has flooded. Five years ago, after Hurricane Irma, residents faced the same problem, but this time the water levels were higher.
The Good Samaritan society says they’re consolidating their services, which means new owners will be taking over locations in 15 states including Florida.
It’s unclear what the future will look like for residents who still live there.
Pro Tip: For homeowners who are still displaced from their homes, be prepared to complete a form breaking down your normal monthly living expenses. You should submit these receipts and invoices to your insurance company as they accrue, so that you can be reimbursed over time as long as needed and up to 12 months.
If you have experienced severe Hurricane damage to your home, contact the Insurance Litigation Group today for a no-charge home inspection and damage assessment! Let our experienced and aggressive adjusters and insurance attorneys help get you paid for your loss.
