Florida homeowners seeking to fortify their residences against hurricanes will have another opportunity as the "My Safe Florida Home" grant program reopens its application portal on Monday, August 4th. The program, which offers matching grants of up to $10,000, aims to help eligible residents strengthen their homes against severe weather events.
Key Takeaways
- The "My Safe Florida Home" program reopens for applications on August 4th.
- Grants of up to $10,000 are available to help homeowners "harden" their homes.
- New funding of $280 million has been allocated for the program.
- Applications will be prioritized based on age and income.
- The program website is mysafeflhome.com.
Program Reopens with New Funding and Prioritization
The "My Safe Florida Home" initiative, a legislative priority for Florida Realtors, provides financial assistance for home improvements designed to increase resilience against storms. Since its inception, the program has reimbursed over $369 million to more than 39,000 homeowners. The latest legislative session allocated $280 million to continue the program, a figure lower than the initial request but sufficient to support a significant number of applicants.
Prioritizing Low- and Moderate-Income Homeowners
This year’s iteration of the program introduces a prioritization system, focusing initially on low- and moderate-income households. This change stems from previous years where funding was quickly exhausted, leaving many eligible applicants unable to secure grants. Homeowners who have already completed their initial windstorm mitigation inspections and verified their age and income eligibility will be processed first.
Application Process and Eligible Improvements
Homeowners interested in applying are encouraged to visit the program’s official website to create an account and request a free inspection. This inspection will identify potential improvements eligible for grant funding and possible discounts on property insurance. Key eligible improvements include:
- Strengthening roof-to-wall and roof-to-deck connections.
- Installing secondary water resistance barriers for roofs.
- Upgrading opening protections such as impact windows, storm shutters, and reinforced garage doors.
Windstorm mitigation inspections are a mandatory prerequisite before grant funding can be requested.
Income Eligibility and Matching Requirements
The definition of low- and moderate-income levels is determined by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), varying by county and household size. Generally, low-income households earn 80% or less of their county’s median income, while moderate-income households earn between 80% and 120%.
While moderate- and higher-income homeowners are required to contribute a $1 match for every $2 of grant funding requested (up to $10,000), low-income homeowners are exempt from this matching contribution. Homeowners can consult HUD’s website for detailed income level charts.
Other Program Requirements
To be eligible for the "My Safe Florida Home" program, applicants must meet several criteria:
- The property must be a single-family, detached residential property or townhouse, site-built, and owner-occupied.
- The insured value of the home must not exceed $700,000, with an exemption for low-income homeowners.
- The home must have a homestead exemption granted under Florida law.
Applications will be processed in groups, with specific dates allocated for different income and age brackets, starting with those aged 60 and older who meet low-income thresholds.
Sources
- My Safe Florida Home Program Reopens Monday, | Florida Realtors.
- What the director told us about applying, WPTV.
- Here are the dates you can apply, WPTV.