Louisiana Launches Lottery System for Fortify Homes Program Grants

The Louisiana Department of Insurance announced that registration for the next round of Louisiana Fortify Homes Program (LFHP) grants will open at 8 a.m. on Wednesday, September 18, and close at 5 p.m. on Friday, September 20. While previous grant rounds operated on a first-come, first-served basis, registration for this and future rounds will be conducted using a lottery system.

To participate in the lottery, homeowners must register during the three-day period in September. Homeowners who attempted to apply during a previous round of grants but were not selected will need to register for this round.

Once the lottery registration period closes, the LFHP will randomly select 300 participants from the pool of eligible registrants, and an additional 200 registrants will be placed on a waitlist for the same round. The LFHP will send an email notification to registrants who are selected to participate.

This round will be open to residents of Louisiana’s Coastal Zone, which includes all or part of the following parishes: Ascension, Assumption, Calcasieu, Cameron, Iberia, Jefferson, Lafourche, Livingston, Orleans, Plaquemines, St. Bernard, St. Charles, St. James, St. John the Baptist, St. Martin, St. Mary, St. Tammany, Tangipahoa, Terrebonne and Vermilion.

The LFHP is considering parameters for future grant rounds, including opening rounds to registrants statewide, limiting registration to homeowners with low-to-moderate income, and more. Details about future grant rounds will be released later this year.

“With over 1,300 FORTIFIED roof grants issued since the program began last year, the LFHP is doing great work to help homeowners while making our state a more attractive place for insurers to do business,” said Commissioner Tim Temple. “Changing the program to a lottery system creates a fairer experience for everyone who is interested in applying.”

Those interested in the program are encouraged to review eligibility information and frequently asked questions at www.ldi.la.gov/fortifyhomes to determine whether their home meets the requirements for the program. Homeowners are required to create a profile in the LFHP system before registering for the lottery and may do so by visiting the LFHP website and clicking the Login button. Homeowners who previously created a profile may continue to use it.

If selected to participate in the grant program, homeowners will be financially responsible for having the home evaluated by a FORTIFIED-certified Evaluator as well as costs for the roofupgrade including permits, inspections and construction costs beyond the amount of the grant.

Eligibility & Grant Requirements:

• Homeowners applying for a grant should wait to see if they are selected to participate before contacting an Evaluator or Contractor as the process for selecting professionals is managed through the LFHP grant program. Homeowners who select a Contractor and begin work on the project before receiving approval from the LFHP are not eligible for the program.
• Homeowners selected to receive a grant will be responsible for paying evaluation fees for the entire evaluation process according to prices set by the Evaluator.
• Homeowners are only eligible for their primary residence and must verify they have a homestead exemption on the property during the application process.
• Homeowners must provide proof of an active residential insurance policy with wind coverage. If they live in a Special Flood Hazard Area as designated by FEMA, they must also provide proof of a flood insurance policy. Contact your agent if you are unsure whether you have these coverages.
• Homes must be in good repair as determined by a FORTIFIED Evaluator.
• New construction homes, condominiums and mobile homes are not eligible to participate in the program.
• Homes on a foundation constructed of unrestrained stacked masonry or stone (dry-stack foundation) are not eligible without an approved retrofit of the foundation.
• The completed project must meet the FORTIFIED Roof Standard for the grant to be issued. Grant funds are paid directly to contractors. Homeowners are financially responsible for all costs beyond the full grant amount. Grant funding is limited to construction costs.
• These and all other eligibility requirements and program details may be reviewed at www.ldi.la.gov/fortifyhomes.

The LFHP provides grants of up to $10,000 for homeowners to upgrade their roof to the Insurance Institute for Business & Home Safety’s FORTIFIED Roof Standard, which includes strengthening the home against severe storms, high winds and wind driven rain.

Source: LDI

Topics Louisiana