Florida’s $833 million My Safe Florida Home mitigation program is drawing sharp criticism from a state lawmaker and home inspectors who argue the popular grant system wastes taxpayer money while providing minimal insurance savings for homeowners. The program has provided more than 32,000 grants over the last few years, many for new roofs, but critics say it fails to effectively reduce insurance costs or properly fortify homes.

“We’re not really fortifying homes by putting on a new roof,” said Florida state Rep. Brian Hodgers, R-Viera. “An old roof is a maintenance item, not an insurance matter.” Hodgers, one of two insurance agents in the Legislature, filed House Bill 1359 this year that would have revamped the program by allowing roof replacement matching grants only if a homeowner’s existing roof fails to meet state building code standards.

Hodgers has documented significant problems with the program’s implementation and oversight. He said he has seen examples and heard stories of roofs funded by the program that do not include a crucial, secondary, water-tight membrane under the shingles. Some unscrupulous contractors simply tape over the seams between the plywood decking sheets, he contends, despite Florida building codes requiring either a self-adhering “peel and stick” membrane across the entire roof decking or taped seams along with felt or similar nailed-down underlayment.

The Department of Financial Services, which manages the My Safe Florida Home program, acknowledged that it can be difficult for inspectors to verify the presence of a secondary water barrier. “For the installation of a SWB (secondary water barrier) to be considered for grant funding, applicants must show proof that the SWB was put in the right way,” the program’s website notes. “It is also a good idea to take photos during the work …” However, the mitigation program encourages but does not require photographs of reroof jobs, making verification challenging once installation is completed.

Hodgers’ analysis of insurance data revealed that homeowners receive minimal financial benefit from the program despite the substantial public investment. His research showed an average annual premium discount of just $18 after new roofs were installed, as most Florida insurers provide only minimum credits for new roofs. The lawmaker argues the program could provide millions more in funding for improvements that would better reduce insured losses and claims, such as impact-resistant windows and doors, and roof-to-wall connections, by eliminating roof grants altogether.

Home inspectors have identified additional structural problems with the program’s implementation. Glenn Stephens, a home inspector, roofing contractor and president of the Florida Association of Building Inspectors, explained that under My Safe Florida Home regulations, homes receive an initial inspection to determine grant eligibility, followed by a second inspection after retrofit work is completed. “It’s a tough break for the homeowner when that happens,” Stephens told Insurance Journal, referring to situations where homes fail the second inspection and lose grant funding entirely.

The program’s inspection rules create significant financial risks for both homeowners and contractors. If a home fails the second inspection, there is no option for a third inspection to verify corrections, and the grant funding is nullified. This quirk can leave homeowners and contractors facing losses up to $10,000 in some cases, according to Mike Silvers, director of technical services for the Florida Roofing and Sheetmetal Contractors Association. “As a contractor, you need to be concerned about that,” Silvers said, noting that some contractors could face lawsuits from homeowners who miss out on expected grant funding.

Hodgers’ House Bill 1359 saw little action during this year’s legislative session, which ended last week except for negotiations on the state budget plan. The bill would have required program inspectors to verify, under penalty of perjury, that grant-recipient homes have been properly retrofitted. A separate bill that passed the Legislature this year, SB 1452, tweaked some eligibility requirements for the My Safe Florida Home program but did not address the fundamental concerns raised by critics.

Stephens recommended that homeowners whose properties are rejected after the second inspection should work with contractors to correct problems, hire another inspector to document the corrections, and appeal to the program. Hodgers hopes his concerns about the program’s effectiveness and oversight can generate enough interest to revive his reform legislation when the Florida Legislature reconvenes next year.