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- Florida homeowners can apply for the My Safe Florida Home program to receive free wind mitigation inspections and grants for home improvements.
- The program offers matching funds up to $10,000 for upgrades like roof reinforcement and window/door replacements.
- Applications are prioritized based on age and income, with low-income seniors eligible first.
Applications for My Safe Florida Home opened up again on Aug. 4, and Florida homeowners once again have a shot at getting help to harden their homes against storms, up to $10,000.
The My Safe Florida Home (MSFH) program offers free wind mitigation inspections to identify areas where homes can be upgraded and the chance for matching state funds to help do so.
The wildly popular state program, relaunched in 2022, keeps running out of money as homeowners sign up in droves to both strengthen their homes and lower their insurance premiums. The 2025-2026 budget pumped in another $280 million — about half of what Gov. Ron DeSantis asked for — to cover grants for the estimated 45,000 homeowners who applied for the program last year but didn’t get approved in time.
Just getting the free inspection can help homeowners save money on their insurance premiums if they have existing wind mitigation features and have never submitted a claim. Of the homeowners who have received grants, completed improvements and disclosed their insurance premium discounts, they report an average savings of $1,014 per year, the News Service of Florida said in 2024.
Application deadlines are staggered by groups, with low-income Florida homeowners 60 years of age and older getting first priority. Every two weeks, another group detemined by age and income will get their turn.
Grants are awarded on a first-come, first-served basis. “We strongly encourage eligible homeowners to complete their applications as early as possible to maximize their chances,” the MSFH site says. If you have prevously applied for a grant and have not yet filled out the age and income questionnaire, do that right away.
The new budget includes $94 million for MSFH mitigation grants, $1.5 million for inspections, $4.7 million for administrative costs, and a nonrecurring sum of $180 million for the program moving forward for fiscal year 2025-2026.
What is the My Safe Florida Home program?
The My Safe Florida Home Program provides eligible Florida homeowners with free home inspections for hurricane readiness and offers recommendations for wind mitigation features such as roofing materials, better exterior and garage doors, storm shutters, attachments for walls and roofs like hurricane clips and more.
Homeowners who receive the inspection may then also apply for matching grant funds to help pay for any recommended improvements, with the state matching $2 for every dollar the homeowners spend, up to a cap of $10,000. You must get the inspection completed before applying for a grant.
MSFH was originally started in 2006 but the Legislature stopped funding it about three years later. It was brought back during a 2022 legislative special session on the state’s property insurance crisis amid complaints over the state having the highest homeowner premiums in the nation.
According to former Chief Financial Officer Jimmy Patronis, as of May the Legislature has appropriated $576 million in funding for grants and over $28.5 million for 178,184 homes to be inspected.
How can I get a free wind mitigation inspection through My Safe Florida Home?
Anyone who owns a site-built, single-family residential house or townhouse can apply for and receive an inspection. Applying for a grant is not required.
You can apply for a free wind mitigation inspection here.
How do I get discounts on my home insurance with my free MSFH inspection?
Once you get a report showing the existing wind mitigation features on your home (if any), share it with your insurance carrier to make sure you are receiving all available discounts in your home insurance premium.
If you received a grant and had improvements done, contact your insurance carrier again for any new discounts that may be available. Wind upgrade discounts are required by law in Florida.
Who is eligible for a My Safe Florida Home grant?
Once funding is approved and the grant application portal is reopened, homeowners who have received a wind mitigation inspection will be able to apply for a matching grant if they meet the following criteria:
- The homeowner must have applied for, been approved for and received a free home hurricane inspection through the program
- The home must be a single-family, detached residential property or townhouse and must be site-built and owner-occupied
- Homeowners must provide proof of homestead exemption
- The home must be insured to a maximum of $700,000
- The building permit for the home must have been issued before Jan. 1, 2008
- The homeowner must allow the home to be reinspected after the work is completed
What types of mitigation projects are eligible for My Safe Florida Home grants?
ROOFS AND STRUCTURES
- Improving the strength of roof deck attachments
- Reinforcing roof-to-wall connections
- Installing a secondary water barrier for the roof
OPENINGS
- Upgrading exterior doors
- Upgrading garage doors
- Upgrading windows
In 2024, townhouses were made eligible for upgrades on openings (doors and windows) but not for roof repairs.
Will the My Safe Florida Home program pay for a roof replacement?
Grants will not typically cover roof replacements. However, inspection reports that recommend adding a secondary water barrier can be used to justify funds covering the replacement, according to the official site.
When can I apply for a My Safe Florida Home grant?
Starting in 2024, new grant applications are weighted toward residents ages 60 and older, and residents who qualify as low- or moderate-income, with a staggered application schedule giving them priority. This year’s schedule is:
- Group 1, Aug. 4: Age 60+, low-income
- Group 2, Aug. 18: Under age 60, low-income
- Group 3, Sept. 1: Age 60+, moderate-income
- Group 4, Sept. 15: Under age 60, moderate-income
If there are funds left after low and moderate income households have been served, MSFH may open up inspection applications for higher income households on a limited basis. Higher income households will not be eligible for grants, however, the MSFH site said.
How can I tell if I need to complete my grant application?
If you log into the MSFH portal and your status says, “Grant App Prioritization Open,” you need to complete the prioritization questionnaire to be eligible for a grant application when available.
If I applied for the My Safe Florida Home program but haven’t received a grant, what happens next?
If your application status in the application portal is labeled “submitted,” your application will remain on hold until the agency begins processing grants again. Grant applications will be approved in the same order they were received.
Make sure to log into your account and make sure your application is completely filled out.
Contributing: Brandon Girod, Pensacola News Journal
Alice J. Roden started working for Trending Insurance News at the end of 2021. Alice grew up in Salt Lake City, UT. A writer with a vast insurance industry background Alice has help with several of the biggest insurance companies. Before joining Trending Insurance News, Alice briefly worked as a freelance journalist for several radio stations. She covers home, renters and other property insurance stories.