Home Hardening Program Closes to New Applicants
Homeowners who have already been approved for My Safe Florida Home inspections will still be eligible to apply for grants.
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – The state has stopped taking new applications for a popular home-hardening program, less than a month after a new round of funding became available.
The Department of Financial Services said online that funding has been “exhausted” for initial inspections in the My Safe Florida Home program. The program offers inspections and grants up to $10,000 to help residents upgrade homes and qualify for property-insurance discounts for residences valued up to $700,000.
Devin Galetta, spokesman for state Chief Financial Officer Jimmy Patronis, said Wednesday the program is still “up and running” for people who have already been approved for inspections.
“As we continue to fight (insurance) rate increases, the My Safe Florida Home program is one of the strongest tools in the toolkit to help rein in rates and make homes safer,” Galetta said in a statement. “Next (legislative) session, the CFO is going to put forward some ideas for improving the program, including dedicated funding streams and making the program reoccurring.”
The program drew 3,212 initial inspection applications after a new My Safe Florida Home law (SB 7028) took effect July 1. The legislation included $200 million for hurricane-mitigation grants, inspections and outreach.
The department said the program has been used to conduct 106,000 home inspections over the past two years, with 38,500 grant applications approved.
The department estimates that grant-related home improvements have provided up to $1,000 in savings on insurance premiums.
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