Grant Reimbursement Program

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The My Safe Florida Home Program was re-enacted during the most recent Special Session of the Florida Legislaturs consisting of two primary components:

1. Wind Mitigation Home Inspections (DFS anticipates between 140,000 and 145,000 initial home inspections.)  All owners of site-built, single-family, residential homes or townhouses are eligible to make application for a wind mitigation home inspection. This inspection will identify those elements of your home’s construction which could be improved to mitigate your home against future wind damages. All inspections will be provided to eligible homeowners free of charge by the State. Applications will be reviewed and approved in the order in which they are received until current funding is exhausted.
2. Wind Mitigation Grant awards for home construction (DFS anticipates awarding between 11,000 and 12,000 grants based on current funding.)

The Legislature has authorized DFS to provide a matching grant to eligible homeowners up to $10,000 for the actual cost of qualifying home hurricane mitigation projects. The program will provide $2 in grant funds for every $1 the homeowner provides.  Low income grants have been increased from $5,000 to $10,000.

Potentially lower your home insurance premiums by participating in the program.

*TOWNHOUSES ARE NOT ELIGIBLE FOR ROOF IMPROVEMENTS
WHEN RECOMMENDED BY YOUR HOME HURRICANE INSPECTION, PROGRAM GRANT MONEY HAS BEEN MADE AVAILABLE FOR THE FOLLOWING STRENGTHENING IMPROVEMENTS:

• Reinforce Roof-to-Wall Connections
• Install Secondary Water Resistance for the Roof 
• Upgrade Roof Covering
• Improve the Strength of Roof Deck Attachments

• Exterior Door Upgrades
• Garage Door Upgrades
• Window Upgrades
  

*** RECENT UPDATES *** Please Read

There are program changes made during the last Legislation Session that take effect July 1.  

The good news: we are funded for the new fiscal year with another $200 million by the Legislature.  That should add another 18,000 + grants to the 38,000 grants we have already funded for wind mitigation upgrades for Florida homeowners. What’s more, MSFH participants who did receive an insurance discount, saved an average of $1,000 on their premiums.  

The application portal is closed for now and cannot accept new inspection or grant applications until we re-open with the new funding on July 1.

Here are some other changes that take effect July 1, 2024:

1. Homeowners will now be able to choose any licensed Florida contractor to do the recommended MSFH improvements. The previous requirement for using an authorized program contractor is gone. However, the LOW-INCOME Grant Contractor registration/payment process will remain.
2. Applications will be accepted and prioritized in the following order:
   • Low-income homeowners age 60+ – July 1
   • Low-income homeowners – July 16-31
   • Moderate-income homeowners age 60+ – August 1-15
   • Moderate-income homeowners – August 16-30
   • All other eligible Florida homeowners – September 1

Here are a couple of quick educational videos on the program:  

https://youtu.be/G48KSOvCieA

https://youtu.be/MnQUjx1zgzw