Florida homeowners can apply for My Safe Florida Home grant program starting July 1

ESPECIALLY, IS TOP OF MIND RIGHT NOW DURING HURRICANE SEASON. AND SOME FLORIDA HOMEOWNERS CAN START APPLYING FOR A POPULAR GRANT. YEAH, AS OF TODAY, MY SAFE FLORIDA HOME IS BACK OPEN WESH TWO’S TONY ATKINS LOOKS AT HOW HELPING FLORIDIANS PROTECT THEIR HOMES AGAINST MAJOR STORMS. THE MY SAFE FLORIDA HOME PROGRAM IS BACK ONLINE. THE PROGRAM, WHICH HAS BEEN RUNNING SINCE 2007, AIMS TO HELP PEOPLE STRENGTHEN THEIR HOMES AGAINST HURRICANES. THE STATE RUN PROGRAM OFFERS FREE INSPECTIONS AND $10,000 GRANTS FOR THINGS LIKE IMPACT WINDOWS AND OTHER HOME HARDENING IMPROVEMENTS. WE’RE PUSHING OUT DOLLARS IN ORDER TO HELP PEOPLE HARDEN THEIR HOMES. IF YOUR HOME IS TOUGHER, IF IT’S LESS LIKELY TO SUSTAIN DAMAGE AFTER A STORM, IT’S LESS LIKELY YOU’RE GOING TO FILE A CLAIM. IF IT’S LESS LIKELY, YOU’RE GOING TO FILE A CLAIM THAN YOUR INSURANCE PREMIUMS GO DOWN BECAUSE IT’S LESS RISK. THE PROGRAM RELAUNCHES WITH $200 MILLION TOTAL IN FUNDING READY TO BE DISTRIBUTED THIS YEAR. THE PROGRAM PRIORITIZES SENIORS AND LOW INCOME HOMEOWNERS OUT OF SIX ELIGIBLE GROUPS. IT WORKS IN SEVERAL PHASES. FIRST, HOMEOWNERS WILL NEED TO APPLY FOR A FREE WIND MITIGATION INSPECTION BEFORE APPLYING FOR A GRANT. THEN, BASED ON THAT NEED AN IMPROVEMENT CAN BE MADE. THE STATE LISTS THE PROGRAM’S FINAL STEP IS SAVING MONEY THROUGH LOWER INSURANCE RATES IN HOME INSURANCE EXPERTS. I SPOKE TO SAY THIS COULD EARN YOU MONEY IN DIFFERENT KIND OF WAYS, EITHER THROUGH SAVING MONEY ON YOUR HOME INSURANCE RATES OR EARNING MONEY THROUGH EQUITY. IF ANYTHING, YOU’RE ALWAYS GOING TO GAIN EQUITY. PRICES ARE NOT GOING DOWN. THAT DRAMATICALLY FOR IT TO BE A NEGATIVE. SO ANYTHING THAT THE GOVERNMENT IS HELPING YOU WITH, I APPLAUD IT. DIANA JEROME HAS WORKED IN THE INSURANCE BUSINESS FOR 30 YEARS. SHE SAYS THE ACTUAL IMPACT ON INSURANCE RATES COULD BE LARGE OR SMALL, BUT IT’S SOMETHING REPORTING IN ORLANDO TONI ATKINS, WESH TWO NEWS. ALL RIGHT, ELIGIBILITY FOR ALL HOMEOWNERS THOUGH, OPENS UP IN AUGUST. AND YOU CAN FIND A LINK TO APPLY FOR THE MY SAFE FLORIDA HOME PROGRAM.