‘My Safe Florida Home’ State Grant Allocates $10,000 in Assistance to Homeowners Who Strengthen Homes Against Hurricanes

"My Safe Florida Home" program dedicated $215 million to aid homeowners

BREVARD COUNTY, FLORIDA – To combat escalating insurance costs and mitigate property damage in the impending storm season, Florida’s state government is extending a lifeline to homeowners.

It is allocating up to $10,000 for strengthening its estates against hurricanes.

“My Safe Florida Home“, a program launched back in November, has dedicated $215 million to aid homeowners in safeguarding their homes from hurricane impacts by reinforcing windows, doors, and roofs.

Named as the state with the most substantial rise in average home insurance premiums since 2015 by the Miami Herald, Florida’s lawmakers see this initiative as a way forward.

So far, approximately 20,000 homeowners have accessed the fund, with 11,904 receiving the nod of approval. Initially designed with a focus on homeowners in areas most prone to damage, the eligibility criteria for the program have recently been expanded.

The funding mechanism works on a matching basis: the state grants $2 for every $1 the homeowner spends. The total can be up to $10,000, with low-income homeowners exempted from such co-payments.

“We know the previous program had its challenges,” said Jennifer McCoy of McCoy Freeman Real Estate, “but it’s mightily reassuring to see the state take steps to bring it back. As real estate experts, we see the benefit this can bring to homeowners if executed correctly.”

The earlier version of the program, operational from 2006-2009, faced cancellation due to a slew of issues from lengthy approvals, under-compensated claims, and contractor fraud.

With the current insurance situation in the state precarious, with property insurers radically reducing their coverage or totally exiting the market, the return of the program harbors its past issues.

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