Harris Insurance is always about saving you money. Whether we do it with your personalized quote or through other programs we find, there’s always a new way to save! We will explore something new called the “My Safe Florida Home Program”. This is a new program that the Florida Department of Financial Services is currently in the process of implementing. We will follow closely on when the official program is launched but for now, we would like to bring you all the information we can about it!
First of all, what is the My Safe Florida Home Program?
The program has two primary components:
1. It aims to provide, free of charge, a home inspection that identifies recommended improvements a homeowner may take to mitigate hurricane damage.
2. Eligible homeowners within defined areas of the state may apply for a matching grant to perform work on their home to retrofit their properties to make them less vulnerable to hurricane damage.
What this means is that the state will help you get a free home inspection and determine if you are able to receive money in the form of grants to improve your home! That is very cool.
Quick history of this program: The My Safe Florida Home Program was re-enacted during the most recent Special Session of the Florida Legislature which will help millions of homeowners all over the state when the plan is launched.
Who is eligible to receive a hurricane mitigation inspection?
An owner of a site-built, single-family, residential property may apply for and receive an inspection without any further obligation to apply for a grant.
Who is eligible to apply for a mitigation grant?
For a homeowner to be eligible for a grant, the following criteria must be met:
- The homeowner must have been granted a homestead exemption on the home (If you do not know your status, please confer with your local Property Appraiser or Tax Collector’s Office. Click here to find your local officials);
- The home must be a dwelling with an insured value of $500,000 or less. (Homeowners who are low-income persons may be exempt from this requirement. Look for additional details in the application process);
- The home must have undergone an acceptable hurricane mitigation inspection after July 1, 2008;
- The home must be located in the “wind-borne debris region” as that term is defined in the Florida Building Code (See map by clicking HERE.);
- The building permit application for initial construction of the home must have been made before July 1, 2008 (If you do not know when your home was built, please contact your local building department); and
- The homeowner must agree to make his or her home available for inspection once a mitigation project is completed.
How much can I receive through the grant process?
The Legislature has authorized homeowners to receive up to $10,000 for the actual cost of the mitigation project. The program will provide $2 in grant funds for every $1 the homeowner provides. In order to receive the maximum grant amount, homeowners must be able to provide $5,000 of their own funds toward the project.
What types of mitigation projects will be considered for homeowners?
When recommended by a hurricane mitigation inspection, grants may be used for the following improvements:
- Opening protection;
- Exterior doors, including garage doors;
- Brace gable ends;
- Reinforcing roof-to wall connections;
- Improving the strength of roof-deck attachments;
- Upgrading roof covering from code to code plus; and
- Secondary water barrier for roof.
Are there any other incentives to offset cost for mitigation?
Yes, the Legislature has also provided tax exemptions for home hardening initiatives. Please click here for additional information on tax breaks. Beginning July 1, 2022 until June 30, 2024, sales tax is exempt on purchases of impact-resistant doors, impact-resistant garage doors, and impact-resistant windows.
Can I use my own inspector?
The Department of Financial Services will provide an approved list of inspectors. Homeowners must utilize an inspector from this list.
Can I choose my own contractor to complete the work on my house?
The Department of Financial Services will provide a list of contractors that have agreed to participate in the program. Applicants will be required to use a contractor from that list.
As we are eager to know when the program will be launched, please note that the Department of Financial Services is still in the process of getting everything together. Since we are always helping homeowners and insurance companies build relationships, we wanted to provide this information in the form of a bulletin to provide awareness and insight into how much more money can be saved in the future.
As of now, we all need to know when the program will be launched, how to apply, and when the inspections processes can happen. For now, the information we have received is all good news as it will help cover costs to home improvements that will keep your property safe in case of a storm!
As we continue into September, more than halfway through Hurricane Season, we may be seeing more news surrounding tropical storms, named storms, hurricanes. Always be prepared for what’s to come! Remember to keep in touch with our friendly insurance agents if you need some quick info or advice. We are here to help answer any questions you may have when it comes to all things insurance and weather! Drop us a line at service@harrisinsurance.com or call us at 850.244.2111
LEGAL DISCLAIMER
Views expressed here do not constitute legal advice. The information contained herein is for general guidance of matter only and not for the purpose of providing legal advice. Discussion of insurance policy language is descriptive only. Every policy has different policy language. Coverage afforded under any insurance policy issued is subject to individual policy terms and conditions. Please refer to your policy for the actual language.
