The Florida State Legislature has allocated funds through the MSFH Program to provide a Hurricane Mitigation Grant (“Grant”) to eligible Applicants who will receive a free MSFH Program Initial Inspection and make Recommended Improvements to their home.   

IMPORTANT NOTE: Applicants who receive no Recommended Improvements or are in Group 5 (Applicants of all ages who are above the Moderate-Income threshold) will not be eligible to proceed with the Grant Application. These cases will be sorted into closed statuses prior to the choice to proceed to the Grant Application. 

How to Apply for a Grant  

Applicants must receive an Initial Inspection Report from the MSFH Program before applying for a Hurricane Mitigation Grant. The Applicant Portal can be accessed at any time by going to https://mysafeflhome.com and clicking the “Access Account” button.

IMPORTANT NOTE: Applicants must be prioritized based on age and income criteria as outlined by the Legislature. 

Hurricane Mitigation Grant Eligibility Requirements

According to section 215.5586, F.S., Florida Homeowners and properties that meet the following requirements may qualify for a Hurricane Mitigation Grant:  

• The home must be eligible for a Hurricane Mitigation Inspection and must have received an Initial Inspection through the MSFH Program. 
• The home must be a dwelling with an insured value of $700,000 or less. 
• The building permit application for initial construction of the home must have been made before January 1, 2008. 
• The Homeowner must provide the name and license number of the Contractor selected to perform the Mitigation Project. 
• The Homeowner must agree to make the home available for a Final Inspection once the Project is complete; and 
• The Homeowner must agree to provide any and all information received from the Homeowner’s insurer to the MSFH Program identifying the discounts based on the observed Mitigation Improvements in the Final Inspection Report.

Project Timeline 

Funding is set aside for Applicants after a Grant Application has been approved. To receive MSFH Program Grant Disbursement, the Applicant must request a MSFH Program Final 

Inspection, or request an extension for an additional 6 months, within 1 year of receiving Grant Application approval. 

• If no Recommended Improvements are completed within 1 year of the Grant Application approval date, the Grant Application will be administratively closed, and funds reallocated. 
• The Program allows each Applicant to receive only one (1) Grant Disbursement and one (1)    Final Inspection. Applicants cannot reapply. 
• Approval of an Applicant’s Grant Application does not guarantee a Disbursement of Grant funds. Applicants must follow all Program requirements to qualify for Disbursement.

IMPORTANT NOTE: An Applicant will not be eligible for Disbursement if the initial construction permit was issued before the Applicant's Grant Application is approved or if construction is completed or in progress at the time of the Applicant's MSFH Program Initial Inspection. 

Proof of Insured Value

Applicants must provide insurance documentation identifying the home has an insured value of $700,000 or less, as requested in the "Grant Application". The insurance documentation must clearly state the home’s insured value under Coverage A (Dwelling). 

Building Construction Permit 

The home’s initial building construction permit must have been issued prior to January 1, 2008. Contact your county's Property Appraiser or Tax Collector Office for more information regarding your home building permit. 

Homeowners must receive an Initial Inspection Report for the home before they can apply for a Hurricane Mitigation grant. The application can be accessed at https://floridarevenue.com/property/Pages/LocalOfficials.aspx.

Contractor Confirmation

When selecting a contractor, it is the Applicants responsibility to ensure the Contractor is appropriately licensed. The Contractor's license must be either certified or registered with the Florida Business and Professional Regulation (DBPR).

Applicants can verify a Contractor’s license information by visiting the following website: https://www.myfloridalicense.com/. 

It is important to verify the Contractor's license authorizes them to perform the Recommended Improvements. It is the Applicant's responsibility to ensure that the selected Contractor meets this requirement.

If an Applicant needs to change a Contractor in the Applicant Portal after receiving Grant Application approval, they can do so at the Draw Request stage. If you do not use a properly licensed Contractor or complete a Recommended Improvement, YOU WILL NOT RECEIVE DISBURSEMENT. 

IMPORTANT NOTE: The My Safe Florida Home Program and the Florida Department of Financial Services are not involved in or responsible for the Contractor selection process or any aspects of the construction and payment process.  The Program assumes no responsibility for the performance of the Applicant’s selected Contractor. It is the sole responsibility of the Applicant to find and manage an eligible Contractor and oversee the Contractor relationship.  

Sub-Contractors

It is the sole responsibility of the Applicant to find an eligible licensed Contractor and manage their relationship with the Contractor.

If a Sub-Contractor submits an invoice in lieu of the General Contractor as part of the Draw Request, the Sub-Contractor must meet the same requirements as the General Contractor.  

Request for Information (RFI): Grant Application 

If the MSFH Program is unable to approve your Grant Application, you will be sent a Request for Information (RFI). You will need to return to the Applicant Portal and submit additional information to satisfy the RFI. Please ensure you check your emails regularly in case an RFI is sent to you. RFIs must be responded to within 60 days. Closed cases cannot be reopened, so ensure you check your case and your email regularly.   

IMPORTANT NOTE: If you do not respond to this Request for Information (RFI) within 60 days, the MSFH Program Grant Application will be deemed withdrawn and administratively closed. 

Matching and Low-Income Grants  

There are two types of Hurricane Mitigation Grants: Matching Grants and Low-Income Grants. To determine income eligibility, please click this link: https://www.huduser.gov/portal/datasets/il.html.  

Matching and Low-Income Grants  

The MSFH Program Matching Grant operates on a reimbursement basis. Grant Applications must be approved before any work begins. At the end of the application process, an Applicant requests Grant Disbursement by submitting a Draw Request. During the Draw Request process, a paid-in-full invoice is required to be submitted under this Program.

If the Draw Request is approved, the MSFH Program provides $2 in grant funds for every $1 contributed by the Applicant. The Applicant is eligible to be reimbursed for two-thirds (2/3) of the total costs of the Mitigation Project, up to a State contribution of $10,000, subject to legislative appropriation.  

EXAMPLES OF FUNDING CALCULATIONS 

1. An eligible Applicant paid $15,000 for recommended impact-rated windows.  The Applicant would be reimbursed for $10,000, and the remaining $5,000 is the Applicant’s required match. 
2.  An eligible Applicant paid $9,000 for recommended impact-rated windows.  The Applicant would be reimbursed $6,000, and the remaining $3,000 is the Applicant’s required match. 
3. An eligible Applicant paid $20,000 for recommended impact-rated windows.  The Applicant would be reimbursed with the maximum grant allowance of $10,000, and the remaining $10,000 is the Applicant’s responsibility.

Low-Income Grants 

The MSFH Program Low-Income Grant offers payment directly to the Applicant to cover actual costs of Recommended Improvements completed by the Contractor. A Grant Application must be approved before any work begins. At the end of the application process, Grant Disbursement is requested by submitting a Draw Request. During the Draw Request process, a paid-in-full invoice is not required to be submitted under this grant program.   It is the Applicant’s responsibility to pay the Contractor directly. The MSFH and DFS are not involved in or responsible for the payment process or communication with the Contractor.  To determine if you are a Low-Income Applicant, please click this link: https://www.huduser.gov/portal/datasets/il.html.