Strengthen Alabama Homes

How it works

Strengthen Alabama Homes (SAH) is a state grant program run by the Alabama Department of Insurance’s Office of Risk and Resilience for residential wind mitigation on existing owner-occupied single-family homes. The program awards grants to approved applicants in counties where grants are currently being approved, and grants are issued on a first-come basis subject to available funds. (aldoi.gov)

What the money covers

The home must be retrofitted to either the Insurance Institute for Business and Home Safety (IBHS) FORTIFIED Roof or FORTIFIED Silver standard, or an IBHS successor designation. The rule says SAH grant funds cannot be used for maintenance or repairs, but may be used together with repairs or reconstruction needed because of hurricane, non-hurricane wind, or hail damage. (admincode.legislature.state.al.us)

Amounts and matching

The official rule excerpt reviewed here does not state a fixed grant amount. It does state that the homeowner must obtain bids for the chosen work level from three approved program contractors, and that the evaluator’s fee is paid by the homeowner. (admincode.legislature.state.al.us)

How to apply

The homeowner creates an online profile, completes the application, selects a certified IBHS evaluator from SAH’s list, and has the evaluator pre-qualify the home. The applicant then submits the evaluator report, the most recently filed federal income tax return or approved alternative, the homeowner insurance declaration page plus wind insurance policy or policies, and a vendor disclosure statement. (admincode.legislature.state.al.us)

Timing and deadlines

FORTIFIED projects must be completed within three months of the grant approval notification, or the grant may be forfeited. The rule also says additional funding-source-specific rules may apply if another entity provides funds to SAH. (admincode.legislature.state.al.us)