DELRAY BEACH, Fla. — For one Palm Beach County homeowner, the My Safe Florida Home program was easy to sign up for. But now the program has her stuck waiting for the home hardening improvements for her Delray Beach townhome.
"I feel like I'm going to lose the opportunity to get this grant," Janice Newell of Delray Beach said.
The problem was not the initial rush to apply on July 1 since she is in the top priority Group 1 for seniors and low-income households.
Her issue involves finding a contractor to do the work.
"It's hard to find a contractor that wants to be involved in this program," Newell said. "They're saying the state is supposed to pay them the grant, and they don't want to wait for the state to pay them and that I would have to pay them."
Newell said she has $10,000 to help pay the $20,000 cost for impact windows but is counting the $10,000 grant from My Safe Florida Home for the rest.
So far she said, she's tried two contractors, but both are not willing to wait for the grant money.
"One contractor said they would reimburse me if I paid them," she said. "The contractor said he did not want to be involved with this at all."
WPTV reached out to the Financial Service Department, which runs the program, to get a response.
The program is set up to help homeowners harden their homes against storms with $10,000 grants for improvements that can also result in insurance discounts.
The My Safe Florida Home website says Group 1 homeowners do not have to submit a paid-in-full invoice, and they are not required to pay a matching amount.
Also this year, the program moved away from an approved list of contractors and now allows homeowners to use any licensed contractor they choose.
If you have a question or comment about homeowners insurance, email me at matt.sczesny@wptv.com
Matt Sczesny is determined every day to help you find solutions in Florida's coverage collapse. If you have a question or comment on homeowners insurance, you can reach out to him any time.
Read WPTV's latest "Coverage Collapse" stories below:
-
Rising inflation and weakening job market raise fears of stagflation
Inflation continues to tick up, and new federal data shows a growing number of people are out of work. That combination could lead to stagflation, economists say.
Airfares are up: When to book your holiday flights for the lowest price
Airfares are on the rise again, with the latest CPI numbers show them up 5.9 percent year to year. Here's when to book your holiday flights for the lowest prices.
Prices rise in August; tariff impact on inflation under scrutiny
Consumer prices climbed 2.9% in August, up from 2.7% in July. Rising apparel, vehicle and travel costs add pressure as the Fed weighs cutting interest rates.
Not a fan of spending money? This tip could save you $7 each month
The energy experts at Florida Power and Light (FPL) say ceiling fans should be set to spin counterclockwise in the warmer months to push the cooler air down
