How to get a free $10,000 grant to Hurricane-Proof Your House

Alright, folks, get ready to armor up your house because the My Safe Florida Home grant program is officially back—starting Monday, August 4th.

This bad boy was a hit when it first launched, offering up to $10,000 in matching grants to help Florida homeowners protect their homes from hurricanes. And by “hit,” I mean it got flooded (pun intended) with applications so fast it ran out of money quicker than a tourist at Disney.

Since 2022, it’s shelled out $369 million to more than 39,000 homeowners. So yeah, clearly people love free money and safer roofs.

What’s New This Time?

The state threw in $280 million this round—less than the $590 million Gov. DeSantis wanted, but hey, it’s still a chunk of change.

However, this time around it’s not a free-for-all. The program’s gotten pickier. Low- and moderate-income households get first dibs. If that’s you—congrats, you’re in the VIP lane.

If you’re a higher-income household? You’ll have to sit tight until after September 29th, and even then, it's “maybe, if there’s anything left.” No promises.

Who Gets the Grant?

If you’ve already completed your windstorm mitigation inspection and verified your income and age, you’re in the queue for grant processing.

Not there yet? Go to MySafeFLHome.com, create an account, and request your free inspection. Do not pass go, do not collect $200, just get that inspection scheduled.

What Can You Get Money For?

Here’s what qualifies:

• Secondary water resistance barriers (usually means full roof replacement)

• Roof-to-wall and roof-to-deck reinforcements

• Garage doors with steel reinforcements, impact windows, shutters, new entry doors, etc.

Basically, stuff that keeps your house from turning into a kite during hurricane season.

But—you have to complete the inspection before you apply for the grant.

The Match Game

• Low-income homeowners = no match required. Florida just hands it over. You’re welcome.

• Moderate- and higher-income homeowners = you put up $1 for every $2 the state gives you. Still a solid deal.

Income limits are set by HUD (the feds), and it varies by county and household size. As a general rule:

• Low-income = 80% or less of the median income

• Moderate-income = 80% to 120% of median income

Use this chart to check where you fall: HUD Income Limits

Eligibility Checklist:

✅ Site-built, owner-occupied single-family home or townhouse
✅ Homestead exemption in Florida
✅ Insured value under $700,000 (unless you’re low-income—then you’re exempt from that cap)

Final Thoughts (and Pro Tips)

If you’ve been thinking of upgrading your roof or beefing up your storm protection, this program is the golden ticket. But with demand higher than summer humidity, don’t wait. Start the process now and beat the rush.

Need help figuring out how this plays into your home’s value or potential resale appeal? I’m here for it. Let’s chat.