June 30, 2025, WKMG-TV News 6, Orlando – Lisa Miller was deputy chief financial officer when it was first started in the early 2000’s. “It’s a great program. I know when I worked with it in 2005, I said to our cabinet, you know our governor and our CFO others that sat on the cabinet, that I wanted the word mitigation to be as cool as, you know, getting new granite countertops in your house,” said Miller. “So, if you have a choice between putting in new granite countertops or brand-new floors, pick doing some impact windows or getting a new roof. It’s just the best thing for you and your family.” Miller said with more than 8 million policies in the state of Florida, there’s only so much money to go around with a $10,000 limit per grant. Miller advises people to be ready when the portal opens. “I know a lot of my friends, kind of like waiting for concert tickets, just kept banging on their computer to hopefully get in the queue,” Miller said. (Original story location, including video version: https://www.clickorlando.com/news/local/2025/06/30/its-a-great-program-homeowners-urged-to-act-as-florida-mitigation-funds-set-to-open/)
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – Homeowners in need of assistance to strengthen their homes against storms and lower their insurance premiums may be able to get help from the popular My Safe Florida Home (MSFH) program soon.
After Gov. Ron DeSantis signed the budget Monday, News 6 reached out directly to the Florida Department of Financial Services and learned the grant application portal is expected to open in August.
The My Safe Florida Home Condo Pilot program is set to reopen for applications on July 1.
The new budget adds about $280 million total in funding to the MSFH. That includes about $100 million in mitigation grants, $1.5 million for home mitigation inspections, $4.7 million for operations and administrative costs, and a nonrecurring sum of $180 million from the general revenue fund.
The program, which was re-introduced in 2022, offers financial aid to eligible homeowners across the state to help them make hurricane-related improvements. Lisa Miller was deputy chief financial officer when it was first started in the early 2000’s.
“It’s a great program. I know when I worked with it in 2005, I said to our cabinet, you know our governor and our CFO others that sat on the cabinet, that I wanted the word mitigation to be as cool as, you know, getting new granite countertops in your house,” said Miller. “So, if you have a choice between putting in new granite countertops or brand-new floors, pick doing some impact windows or getting a new roof. It’s just the best thing for you and your family.”
Last year, News 6 reported the $200 million from the state’s budget that was made available to the program ran out within two weeks. Miller said with more than 8 million policies in the state of Florida, there’s only so much money to go around with a $10,000 limit per grant. Miller advises people to be ready when the portal opens.
“I know a lot of my friends, kind of like waiting for concert tickets, just kept banging on their computer to hopefully get in the queue,” Miller said.
There are two types of hurricane mitigation grants available under the MSFH program: Matching grants and low-income grants. Low-income homeowners who are eligible are not required to provide a matching amount to receive grant funds.
Eldridge Mack tells News 6 he first applied for a grant for a new roof for his home in Bushnell last year. He was approved in August, but he still hasn’t been able to get the work done because he says he can’t find a contractor who is willing to install the new roof without money up front.
“I have 13 estimates for a new roof, which have yet to get done,” said Mack. “No one wants to do the work and wait 30 days after the state of Florida does the initial final inspection, then issue the funds.”
According to the MSFH website, homeowners receive a grant reimbursement once they confirm the mitigation project is complete and all contractor permits are approved and closed. They must request a final inspection through their portal account, which will then be submitted to an insurance provider.
“I don’t have $10,000, $15,000 in savings. I’m low income, and I barely get $12,000 a year,” said Mack. “My roof right now is going on 15 years old. My homeowner’s insurance dropped because I need a new roof. So, I can’t get homeowner insurance without the roof.”
Mack says he has until September to find a way to use the $10,000 grant he qualified for. He hopes he can get approved for a USDA loan so he can get the roof fixed.
“It’s like dangling a carrot, but you can’t get the carrot,” Mack said.
In March, then Florida Chief Financial Officer Jimmy Patronis encouraged many homeowners who had completed home inspections to submit the age and income information required.
“There’s over $100 million in existing My Safe Florida Home funds and about 30,000 inspected properties where the homeowner has not completed the age and income questionnaire,” said Patronis. “If you haven’t done so already, it’s critical to go online and provide this information as soon as possible. This lets the Program know how to place applicants and provide grant funding opportunities. If you do not do this, you will not receive a grant.”
To complete the required survey:
- Go to MySafeFLHome.com
- Click on the link to “Access Current Account”
- Answer the survey questions in the Applicant Portal
- Monitor your email for updates
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