Note: Grant recipients must be currently insured through the MS wind pool and have been insured by the wind pool for three(3) consecutive policy years prior to being eligible. DO NOT submit an Interest Form if you do not meet this eligibility criteria.
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SMH Interest Form Link for MWUA Policyholders:
Homeowner Checklist
Contact Info
Email: SMH@mid.ms.gov
Phone: 601-359-3569
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What is the Strengthen Mississippi Homes (SMH) Program?
The Strengthen Mississippi Homes Program helps eligible homeowners make their homes stronger against severe weather by providing grants for roof improvements that meet the FORTIFIED Roof™ standard. These upgrades can help reduce damage from hurricanes, tornadoes, hail, and high winds while giving homeowners greater peace of mind. In addition to better protection, many homeowners may also qualify for insurance discounts after completing the approved improvements.
What is FORTIFIED?
FORTIFIED is a nationally recognized building standard designed to make homes more resilient to severe weather. Strengthening key parts of your roof helps reduce the risk of damage from high winds, hail, and heavy rain. A FORTIFIED Roof™ can provide greater peace of mind and may also help homeowners qualify for insurance discounts.
About SMH
What are the benefits?
Homes with a FORTIFIED Home™ Designation may receive discounts on the wind portion of their homeowner’s insurance premium. Contact your insurance agent for discount details.
Grant Amount
Your SMH Application will be evaluated provided funds are available, and your home is able to be mitigated. The grant will cover up to $10,000 in costs for the roof upgrade and will be paid directly to the contractor upon completion of the project and submission of required paperwork, including the FORTIFIED™ certificate from IBHS. If there are any costs above the grant award amount, these will be the responsibility of the homeowner.
Contracts for all mitigation work will be between the contractor and the homeowner. We do not issue funds to the homeowner.
What are the Costs?
SMH grants help homeowners upgrade their roofs to the FORTIFIED standard. Homeowners are responsible for:
- Any cost of the roof replacement that exceeds the awarded grant amount.
- Additionally, homeowners are responsible for paying the evaluation fee directly to the FORTIFIED evaluator they choose. SMH grants do not cover the cost of the evaluation.
- These fees vary by Evaluator, so please contact several Evaluators from a list that will provided to you to determine which Evaluator you wish to select for an inspection of your home.
Choosing a contractor
After a certified FORTIFIED evaluator has determined your home meets the eligibility requirements to qualify for a FORTIFIED designation, you will select three (3) contractors from a list of SMH qualified and trained contractors. The three (3) contractors will provide bids for the specific work needed on your home.
Once the bids are submitted, you’ll receive a grant award letter. You must have the award letter from SMH before mitigation work can begin. As mitigation work continues, the Evaluator will work with your chosen contractor to document the work and materials meet the FORTIFIED standard and submit the documentation to IBHS for review and certification.
What is a FORTIFIED evaluation?
For an SMH grant, a FORTIFIED evaluation consists of two steps.
- First, a certified FORTIFIED evaluator inspects a property to determine if it meets the eligibility requirements of the FORTIFIED Home™ program.
- If it does, the evaluator works with the selected contractor to document materials and installation methods meet the FORTIFIED Home – Roof™ – High Wind designation standard. The evaluator then submits the documentation to IBHS for review and certification.
Homeowners will choose an evaluator from a list of SMH qualified and trained evaluators. You, as the homeowner, are responsible for paying the fee for the evaluation directly to the evaluator. Our grants do not cover the cost of the evaluation.
Homeowner Qualifications
Residence
Residents that claim their primary residence in Mississippi may apply.
Condominiums, duplexes, mobile homes or manufactured homes are not eligible at this time.
Condition of Residence
Your home must be in good repair, unless damaged by a tornado, other catastrophic windstorm or hail. Good repair means the home is well maintained and the only damage, if any, is recent storm-related damage.
Proof of Insurance
You must provide proof that you have an in-force homeowners insurance policy with wind coverage.
You must provide proof that you have an in-force flood insurance policy if your home is in a special flood hazard area.
Certified FORTIFIED™ Evaluator
To obtain a FORTIFIED™ Designation certificate, your property must receive an evaluation from a Certified FORTIFIED™ Evaluator who is approved by the Strengthen Mississippi Homes program.
The evaluator will inspect your property to determine if it meets the minimum eligibility requirements to be FORTIFIED.
If the property does not meet the FORTIFIED minimum eligibility requirements, the property will not be awarded a grant.
If the property meets the minimum eligibility requirements, your evaluator will work with your chosen SMH-approved contractor to document the mitigation work. Once work is completed, your evaluator will submit the documentation and images to the IBHS audit team for review and approval. If your roof was installed to FORTIFIED Home – Roof™ – High Wind designation with the Hail Supplement, the IBHS audit team will issue a designation certificate.
You will have the opportunity to select an evaluator following notification of the approval of your application.
Payment
Payment will be issued by the Strengthen Mississippi Homes program on your behalf directly to the contractor.
Payment will be issued to your contractor only after you satisfy all the requirements for the grant.
Homeowner Checklist and Instructions
If you have questions, please email SMH@mid.ms.gov or call 601-359-3569
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