ORLANDO, Fla. – The “My Safe Florida Home” program applications open at 8 a.m. Monday, offering millions of dollars to help homeowners make improvements that can lower their insurance premiums.
The program provides funding to strengthen homes against hurricanes, which can reduce insurance costs. Eligible properties include single-family, detached homes or townhouses. The owner must live in the home, have a homestead exemption, and the home’s insured value must be $700,000 or less, among other requirements.
This year, the program is prioritizing low-income Floridians. The program’s website defines a “low-income person” as someone whose total household income is at or below 80% of the median income for their county of residence.
Florida lawmakers allocated $280 million for the program, an increase from last year’s $200 million, which ran out in just over two weeks.
News 6 talked with Lisa Miller, former Florida deputy insurance commissioner, about the program last month.
“We have eight million property insurance policies in Florida, eight million homeowners’ policies. $100 million is not going to go far with a $10,000 limit per grant,” Miller said.
Applications will be accepted on a first-come, first-served basis and processed in tiers:
- Starting Aug. 4: Low-income homeowners 60 and older
- Aug. 18: Low-income homeowners of any age
- Sept. 1: Moderate-income homeowners 60 and older
- Sept. 15: Moderate-income homeowners of any age
Homeowners are encouraged to apply early to maximize their chances. To apply, visit mysafefloridahome.com.
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