FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

September 19, 2024

Registration for the next round of Louisiana Fortify Homes Program (LFHP) grants is currently underway and will close at 5 p.m. on Friday, September 20.

The registration period opened at 8 a.m. on Wednesday, September 18 with a high volume of homeowners creating profiles and logging into the LFHP system to register for the lottery. The high volume of registrants at the onset of the period resulted in long wait times and, in some cases, minor technical issues. Anyone interested in being considered for the lottery should register as soon as possible at www.ldi.la.gov/fortifyhomes. The system will close at 5 p.m.

Those interested in the program are encouraged to review eligibility information and frequently asked questions on the LFHP website 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.

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.

Homeowners who attempted to apply during a previous round of grants but were not selected will need to register for this round. However, this round of grants is limited to residents of Louisiana’s Coastal Zone and of Lake Charles, Sulphur and Westlake. To see if your home is located in Louisiana’s Coastal Zone, click the following link and enter the address of the home you wish to fortify in the “Find address or place” field in the top-right corner of the page: Coastal Zone Map.

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 roof upgrade 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.

About the Louisiana Department of Insurance: The Louisiana Department of Insurance works to improve competition in the state’s insurance market while assisting individuals and businesses with the information and resources they need to be informed consumers of insurance. As a regulator, the LDI enforces the laws that provide a fair and stable marketplace and makes certain that insurers comply with the laws in place to protect policyholders. You can contact the LDI by calling 1-800-259-5300 or visiting www.ldi.la.gov.