Louisiana Fortify Homes program set to launch In October
The first round will award 500 grants to Citizens homeowner policyholders.
Over the years, Louisiana homeowners have suffered significant property losses due to severe storms and hurricanes. Aiming to help homeowners prevent damage and save money on insurance premiums, the Louisiana Fortify Homes Program (LFHP) grant program has been established and will start its first round of grants on October 2, 2023, according to the Louisiana Department of Insurance.
Homeowners must have a policy with Louisiana’s Citizens Property Insurance Corporation, to be eligible for this first round. The first round will consist of 500 grants being awarded to eligible applicants on a first come, first served basis.
The grants offer up to $10,000 for homeowners to repair or replace their roofs to the FORTIFIED Roof standard of the Insurance Institute for Business & Home Safety (IBHS). The standard is based on decades of research by IBHS and is designed to strengthen and protect homes against severe weather such as hail, hurricanes and tornadoes.
The LFHP has secured enough funding to award around 3,000 grants. The plan is to award the first half of the grants to Citizens policyholders and the remaining half to all eligible homeowners across the state.
Most primary residences are eligible for the program. New construction homes, condos and mobile homes are not. The eligibility requirements are:
- Homeowners are only eligible for their primary residence and must verify they have a homestead exemption on the property during the application process.
- Homeowners must provide proof of an active residential insurance policy with wind coverage. If they live in a special flood hazard area as designated by FEMA, they must also provide proof of a flood insurance policy.
- Homes on a foundation constructed of unrestrained stacked masonry or stone (dry-stack foundation) are not eligible without an approved retrofit of the foundation.
- Duplex and similar structures are eligible if the building is the homeowner’s primary residence and if the homeowner can verify the homestead exemption on the property.
- Homes must be in good repair as determined by a FORTIFIED Evaluator. Homeowners are responsible for paying the evaluation fee, which is typically between $300 and $500.
- Homeowners who select a Contractor and begin work on the project before receiving approval from the Louisiana Fortify Homes Program will not be eligible for a grant
- The completed project must meet the FORTIFIED Roof standard in order to receive the grant funding.
- Grant funds are paid directly to contractors. Homeowners are financially responsible for all costs beyond the full grant amount. Grant funding is limited to construction costs.
Even for policyholders who don’t receive a grant, It may be beneficial in the long run to upgrade to a FORTIFIED Roof, whether that benefit comes in the form of reduced premiums, or through avoiding substantial losses in the future.
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