JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – While Florida homeowners anxiously await property insurance relief, legislators are considering more than a dozen bills that would revive the My Safe Florida Home Program, which provides financial assistance for storm readiness work.
Florida Gov. Ron Desantis is asking the Florida Legislature for $600 million to fund the My Safe Florida Home Program. Legislators are considering 15 various pieces of legislation to get the program back on track after it ran out of money last year — resulting in thousands of Florida families being put on the waitlist.
The program offers matching grant money of up to $10,000 so homeowners can shore up their properties.
Speaking to state lawmakers last month, the director of the program reported that as of December:
- $240 million was reimbursed to Floridians
- The state completed nearly 110,000 home inspections (to determine what improvement needed to be made)
- More than 25,000 applicants received grant money before the funds ran out.
As lawmakers consider 15 pieces of legislation that could revive the program and protect more Florida homes, Matt Carlucci Jr. with Brightway Insurance told News4JAX that protective measures do work to save families money.
“Floridians really have been put through the wringer from insurance underwriting guidelines, and so I think that the, my say, Florida home program has really come in at a great time,” Carlucci said.
Carlucci talked about some of the work that can help families save money.
“Replacing your roof, Improving your home’s resistance to water, and installing impact-resistant exterior and garage doors,” Carlucci said.
However, Carlucci does have a warning for families who want to save money by replacing their windows. He said hurricane-proof windows are the way to go.
“That can lower your premium, but it literally has to be every window in the house that includes skylights, even some of the smaller windows that maybe are, you know, over a bathroom or something. So it’s really important to ask the window company first if they are hurricane-proof windows,” Carlucci said. “I had a customer the other day actually get all new windows, and after she could get a discount. And as it turned out, they’re not hurricane-proof windows, so there was no discount available.”
Lawmakers are considering offering priority to the program for low-income and senior homeowners, and they also want condominium owners to be able to participate.
Chief Financial Officer Jimmy Patronis also announced legislation to establish a “My Safe Florida Home Trust Fund.”
The regular session is expected to adjourn in May. News4JAX will provide updates on the program’s success.
To learn more about My Safe Florida Home program, visit this website.