Many of our low-income grant applicants have expressed concerns about their ability to pay a deposit or make full payment to a contractor for installing hurricane opening protection. We are now able to pay the contractor directly so that the homeowner will not have to make any payment out of their own pocket up to $5,000.
 
We are partnering with a statewide contractor, Home Safety Solutions, to install impact and wind pressure rated garage doors and standard removable panels to all openings of a home for low-income homeowners.  Accordion shutters will be installed only if a homeowner qualifies for a medical exemption or has second story openings.
 
Participating low-income homeowners will agree to:
 
• Have the work completed by the selected contractor;
• Not make any payments to the contractor;
• Not be directly reimbursed by the State of Florida, as the contractor will be paid directly by the   My Safe Florida Home program.

A homeowner must already have been approved for the low-income grant to participate.  If you are interested in being a part of this program please call 1-866-513-6734.

Q&A on Direct Pay Low-Income Project

Question: Who is eligible to participate?

Answer: All homeowners who have been approved for the My Safe Florida Home low-income grant and have not yet been reimbursed are eligible to have retrofit completed through this project.

Question: Which contractor can perform the mitigation improvements?

Home Safety Solutions Inc.
704 Stevens Ave.
Oldsmar, FL 34677
Toll Free: 1-888-999-0663
Tel: (813)-814-2236
 Fax: (813)-814-2237

Question: What do I need to do to participate?

Answer: Participating low-income homeowners will agree to:

• Have the work completed by the selected contractor;
• Not make any payments to the contractor;
• Not be directly reimbursed by the State of Florida, as the contractor will be paid directly by the My Safe Florida Home program.

If you are interested in participating and you meet the eligibility requirements please call our helpline at 1-866-513-6734.

Question: What products are available through this project?

Answer: Garage doors will be replaced with an impact and wind pressure rated garage door. For window protection the homeowner may choose between fabric panels or accordion shutters. Exterior doors will be replaced with an impact rated door or shuttered with a fabric panel or accordion shutter device.

NOTE: Homeowners in Miami Dade and Broward counties who are subject to Miami Dade code product approval may also use metal or polypropylene panels.

Question: What is covered by the medical exemption?

Answer: Medical exemptions are available for homeowners who currently have hurricane (impact and wind rated) panels that they are unable to deploy. With an approved medical exemption the homeowner can choose to replace their current protection with wind and impact rated accordion shutters up to $5,000. 

Question: What if a category cost exceeds the $5,000 grant limit?

Answer: The selected My Safe Florida Home contractor will protect as many complete categories as possible without exceeding the $5,000 grant limit. If the cost of one category exceeds $5,000; the homeowner may independently contract at their expense to have partial opening protection installed which will allow the My Safe Florida Home contractor to complete the category within the $5,000 grant limit.

Question: Can I use this project to brace my gable ends?

Answer: The contractor on this project is completing opening protections only. If the homeowner has not exceeded the $5,000 grant they may still pursue reimbursement for bracing gable ends through the My Safe Florida Home reimbursement process. Please be aware that the average cost to brace gable ends is nearly $2,000.