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CONSUMER
SERVICES HELPLINE
800-342-2762 |
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MY SAFE FLORIDA HOME PROGRAM NEARS 35,000 GRANTS
Program will continue offering free wind inspections until it reaches
goal of 400,000
Florida Chief Financial Officer Alex Sink today announced that the My Safe
Florida Home (MSFH) program is projecting it will exceed the Florida
Legislature’s goal of approving 35,000 homeowners for grants by the end of
May. The first-come, first-served program will stop accepting new grant
applications at that time. MSFH will continue to work with homeowners
currently making improvements to their homes.
The MSFH program will transition to an inspection-focused program beginning
June 2008, offering free wind inspections for eligible homeowners until it
reaches the Legislature’s goal of performing 400,000 inspections or until
the program sunsets in June 2009.
"With hurricane season less than one month away, I encourage Floridians to
sign up for a free wind inspection to learn how to harden their homes
against hurricane damage,” said CFO Alex Sink, who oversees the Department
of Financial Services. “The response from homeowners has been overwhelming,
and I thank the Legislature for creating this program and allowing us to
enable more than 35,000 Floridians to make their homes more
storm-resistant.”
Homeowners who have already received an inspection and meet other statutory
requirements may apply for a grant online at
www.MySafeFloridaHome.com
or by calling toll-free 1-866-513-MSFH (6734). In addition to completing an
application online or over the phone, homeowners are required to provide the
MSFH program with proof of homestead and insurance for matching grants or
proof of homestead and income for low-income grants. Deadlines for applying
for a MSFH grant and the submission of these required application documents
are listed below.
| Grant Application Methods
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Grant Application Deadlines |
| Apply online |
Saturday, May 31, 2008 |
| Apply over the phone |
Friday, May 30, 2008
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Mail proof of
homestead and insurance for matching grants
Mail proof of homestead and income for low-income grants |
Postmarked by Friday, June 13,
2008
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In 2007, the Florida Legislature directed the MSFH program
to provide inspections for at least 400,000 site-built, single-family,
residential properties and provide grants to at least 35,000 applicants
before June 30, 2009. To date, the MSFH program has approved approximately
32,292 homeowners for mitigation grants and has paid 6,930 grants totaling
more than $22.4 million. The MSFH program has also provided more than
222,981 free wind inspections. Participating homeowners receive a wind
inspection report, which suggests ways homeowners can harden their homes
against storm damage and informs homeowners if they are currently eligible
to save money on their wind insurance premiums. To date, 59 percent of
homeowners who have received a free wind inspection are eligible for
discounts on their wind insurance premiums averaging $217 statewide. For
additional information, log on to
www.MySafeFloridaHome.com.
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