Q&A – About the New My Safe Florida Home Program
Each day I feature a listener question sent by one of these methods.
Email: brianmudd@iheartmedia.com
Social: @brianmuddradio
iHeartRadio: Use the Talkback feature – the microphone button on our station page in the iHeart app.
Today’s entry: Hi Brian- about the new requirements for the My Florida grant program. How are we supposed to know what the median incomes are to qualify? Also is there a certain amount of money for all categories or only if there’s money left over after those with higher priorities have been considered? Thank you.
Bottom Line: These are excellent questions as the My Safe Florida Home Program has reopened for applications this week, but with significant tweaks to the prioritization of who is eligible for grants from the program this year as opposed to the “first come first served” type of approach the program has offered previously. Rather than diving into the changes, let’s take a step back at what the program now looks like and what it’s designed to do.
The My Safe Florida Home Program, funded with $280 million for the 2025–2026 fiscal year, helps Florida homeowners prepare for hurricanes and save on insurance through free wind-mitigation inspections and grants for home improvements. The program follows a two-step process:
Free Wind-Mitigation Inspection: Homeowners apply for an inspection to assess hurricane-resistant features. Eligible homes need to be homesteaded and built prior to 2008 to qualify. Ineligible properties include multi-family homes, condos (separate program for condos), mobile homes, and rentals. Homes must have an insured value of $700,000 or less, unless the homeowner is determined to be “low-income".
Hurricane Mitigation Grants: After receiving an inspection report, eligible homeowners can apply for grants to fund recommended upgrades (roof reinforcements, window/door upgrades). Grants are awarded first-come, first-served, with priority for:
- Group 1: Low-income homeowners aged 60+ (income ≤80% of county median).
- Group 2: Low-income homeowners of any age.
- Group 3: Moderate-income homeowners aged 60+ (income <120% of county median).
- Group 4: Moderate-income homeowners of any age.
The maximum grant amount per homeowner is $10,000. In order to be eligible for the $10,000 grant the homeowner must pay $15,000 towards the completed work. Determining the income eligibility guidelines is a little bit easier than it appears. The state is using the federal HUD Income Limits Documentation System. This enables you to go to their website and review the situation for your location and also the number of persons living in your home which factors in as well.
As a jumping off point, the HUD recognized Median Family Income in Florida is most recently $88,600. Therefore, for the average homeowner over 60 in Florida with income below $70,880 would qualify for Group 1 consideration. Given that the program is first come first served within the eligible groups – time is of the essence if you want to apply. Hopefully that’s helpful and good luck!