Louisiana homeowners have just days left to apply for the state's latest round of fortified roof grants, an initiative designed to make homes more storm-resilient and reduce insurance costs. Applications close Friday for the Louisiana Fortify Homes Program, which will award $10,000 grants to 500 homeowners living in the state's Coastal Zone — including residents of Lake Charles, Sulphur, and Westlake — to upgrade their roofs to meet modern wind and weather protection standards.
This round of funding comes with a significant new addition for Jefferson Parish residents. For the first time, homeowners in the parish who are selected for the state's $10,000 grant can receive up to an additional $5,000 from a new parish-funded supplement. The local incentive, spearheaded by At-Large Council member Jennifer Van Vrancken, aims to help cover remaining out-of-pocket costs for homeowners who otherwise might not be able to afford a fortified roof.
"People drop out of the program after getting the roof grant because they can't afford the additional costs on top of the $10,000," Van Vrancken said. "If we can bring some additional funding to the table, that to me would be a success."
While the state's grant has already provided meaningful financial relief, many homeowners still face steep expenses. The Louisiana Legislative Auditor found that the average cost to replace and fortify a roof exceeds $20,000, leaving many participants with thousands in uncovered costs. Van Vrancken's parish supplement program will automatically provide up to $5,000 to the first 100 Jefferson Parish residents who qualify for the state grant.
The Louisiana Fortify Homes Program, launched in 2023 by the Louisiana Department of Insurance, has already awarded 3,700 grants statewide. The program has helped thousands more fortify their roofs without direct assistance, strengthening communities against the state's increasingly frequent and intense storms.
The benefits extend beyond peace of mind. According to the Legislative Auditor, homeowners who upgrade to fortified roofs see an average 22% discount on their home insurance, saving roughly $1,250 per year. This savings helps make insurance more affordable at a time when premiums across Louisiana have risen sharply due to storm-related risks.
Eligibility for the state grant requires that homes be covered by an active insurance policy that includes wind coverage. Properties in FEMA-designated flood zones must also carry flood insurance. New construction, condominiums, and mobile homes do not qualify. Selected homeowners will have 30 days to confirm their eligibility. Those who registered in earlier rounds of the program — held in September 2024 and February 2025 — will automatically be included in this lottery.
Funding for Jefferson Parish's supplemental program comes from the Roof Enhancement Lottery Incentive Fund (RELIF), created last June when the Parish Council voted to allocate $3.5 million in interest earnings from federal American Rescue Plan Act funds. Each council member received $500,000 to direct toward community initiatives, and Van Vrancken chose to invest her portion in homeowner assistance. Any unused funds will support the Jefferson Parish Finance Authority's Heroes to Homeowners program, which provides $2,500 grants to first-time homebuyers who are teachers, healthcare professionals, first responders, or military members.
Van Vrancken said the fortified roof supplement will be a one-time program for now but hopes to find a sustainable funding source to continue it in the future. "Otherwise, I fear that people in south Louisiana are going to find it increasingly unaffordable to insure their homes," she said.
Insurance Commissioner Tim Temple praised the Fortify Homes Program's growing impact, saying, "This program is vital for protecting our state against severe weather and making Louisiana a more attractive place for insurers to do business."
With the application deadline approaching, Louisiana homeowners still have a chance to secure significant assistance to strengthen their homes, reduce insurance costs, and protect their investments against the storms that define life along the Gulf Coast.
Click Here For the Source of the Information
No comments:
Post a Comment