TAMPA, Fla.- The My Safe Florida Home Program, aimed at helping Floridians reduce property insurance costs by making storm-protective upgrades, has reopened and is once again offering grants to eligible homeowners.

This state initiative provides matching grants of up to $10,000 for homeowners to fortify their homes with hurricane-resistant features such as impact-resistant doors, windows, and other essential storm-protective upgrades. The program's goal is to mitigate damage from hurricanes and severe storms, thereby lowering insurance premiums and enhancing home safety.

"If your driver's license says Florida, it's your home that will be struck," said Lisa Miller, an insurance advisor and disaster recovery expert. "It's how your home performs that matters."

The reopening of the My Safe Florida Home Program follows Governor Ron DeSantis signing Senate Bill 7028 into law in April, which allocated $200 million to the program. This funding is part of a broader effort to make homes more resilient to Florida's frequent and powerful storms.

The new legislation also allows applicants to receive home inspections even if they do not qualify for a grant. This provision ensures that all homeowners can benefit from professional advice on how to improve their home's storm resilience.

"The first, most important component of your house is your roof," Miller emphasized. "Second are your windows and your garage."

To apply for the grant, first-time applicants must complete an initial wind-mitigation inspection. This inspection provides homeowners with:

- Discount Opportunities: The inspection report can be shared with insurance carriers to ensure homeowners receive all possible discounts on the hurricane portion of their home insurance premium.

- Improvement Roadmap: A detailed plan for retrofitting the home with improvements to strengthen it against hurricanes, including recommended upgrades and estimated costs.

Existing users of the program can log into their portal account to check their Grant Group Category number and track their application status.

"It's a fact that we, as Floridians, have to realize that the days of inexpensive insurance premiums are over," Miller stated, pointing out several factors contributing to rising insurance costs.

Miller highlighted inflation, increased re-insurance costs for insurance companies, litigation from lawsuits against insurers, and fraudulent claims as primary drivers of escalating insurance premiums. "These factors have been driving the cost of insurance," she said. "So, if we can get that cost down by making our home stronger, we should absolutely do it."

She also underscored the long-term benefits of the My Safe Florida Home program, noting that investing in home fortification not only reduces insurance premiums but also saves money and time by preventing damage during storms.

The My Safe Florida Home program was initially established in 2006 but was brought back in 2022 to address ongoing challenges with property insurance costs in Florida.

Miller advised potential applicants to be patient with the application process and the portal, acknowledging the high demand for grant money. She expressed hope that the program would continue to receive funding to support as many homeowners as possible.

In addition to individual home upgrades, the program plays a critical role in the broader effort to enhance community resilience. By encouraging widespread adoption of storm-protective measures, the program helps to reduce the overall impact of hurricanes on Florida communities, lowering recovery costs and improving public safety.

Overall, the My Safe Florida Home Program represents a significant investment in the safety and financial well-being of Florida homeowners, offering practical solutions to mitigate the risks associated with living in a hurricane-prone region.