Lawmakers introduce bills to address My Safe FL Home issues

Florida's My Safe Florida Home program aims to help homeowners protect their properties against hurricanes at a reduced cost. However, many residents face challenges accessing the program due to technical issues during the application process.

Lawmakers are now considering changes to make the program more accessible. The new legislative proposals would allow applicants to resubmit their My Safe Florida Home applications if they've been denied.

Lawmakers aim to address technical problems that have left many applications rejected without explanation. These bills could provide a second chance for homeowners impacted by these issues.

The proposed changes would require the Department of Financial Services to notify applicants if their applications are considered "abandoned." This occurs when there is a failure to finalize construction, request a final inspection, or request an extension within a year after grant approval.

Applicants would have five business days to respond with a valid reason for noncompliance and resubmit their grant applications.

If the Financial Services Department needs more information, applicants must provide it within two months, or the application will be withdrawn. This new process hopes to streamline the application experience and reduce barriers faced by homeowners.

In October, WINK News spoke with Lee Bainter, who was unable to qualify for the grant because he lives in a manufactured home.

"It may be more critical now than it ever was before," said Bainter. "One of the standards that's happened after the hurricane is they changed the building code here. For manufactured homes like this, or my neighborhood in general, you have to be 13 feet above sea level," said Bainter.

Lavonna Beers, who attended a WINK Listens event in November, also faced challenges applying for the grant and felt overlooked by the program.

"I'm not getting any help because I don't meet this criteria or that criteria," said Beers. "Maybe someone should talk to me that maybe could make me understand or show me how I could fit into one of these programs."

Homeowners can receive up to $10,000 through the My Safe Florida Home program for wind-mitigation improvements. These improvements include impact-resistant windows and doors, impact-rated garage doors, and a secondary water resistance barrier under shingles and tiles on roofs.

As Florida lawmakers work to improve access to the program, residents hope these changes will offer them a fair chance to secure funding for essential home fortifications.