The US State Offering $10,000 Of 'Free Money' On Home Repairs

Although Louisiana does not see heavy snowfall or freezing temperatures, it is subjected to a high number of tropical storms every year. According to Finder, a platform that helps individuals compare insurance and financial products, Louisiana sees 18.86% of all hurricanes in the U.S. and has the third highest frequency of tropical storms. For homeowners, tropical storms can be costly, leading to lower home valuations and skyrocketing insurance prices. Louisiana saw a 38% increase in its homeowners insurance costs in 2024, according to Insurify, and changes to Louisiana's insurance laws could further hurt homeowners. To protect residents from such impacts and help fund a fundamental home upgrade that can be costly and dangerous to delay, the state launched the Louisiana Fortify Homes Program to effectively give qualifying residents free money to protect their homes from future storms.

The Louisiana Fortify Homes Program launched in 2023 and is still active. By 2024, it became popular enough that the program was forced to switch from a first-come, first-served system to a lottery. Homeowners can apply to enter the state's lottery selection system, and those selected can receive a grant of up to $10,000 per home to upgrade their roofs. The new roofs need to meet the Insurance Institute for Business & Home Safety's Fortified Roof Standard, and participating homeowners will also receive documentation from the program that could qualify them for lower insurance premiums.

There are several other requirements Louisianans need to meet to qualify for the Fortify Homes Program. Louisiana residents must own their home and list it as their primary residence. They also need to have an existing insurance policy with wind coverage included, and those in certain locations may also need flood insurance as well. The home also needs to be determined structurally sound and suitable for use by a representative of the program. Mobile homes, condos, and newer buildings yet to be lived in are not eligible for grants.

Louisiana residents who qualify and are thinking of applying should also be aware of the program's application windows. The Louisiana Fortify Homes Program only accepts new applications during specific times and also prioritizes regions that are more likely to be affected by tropical storms; the most recent round of grants largely went to homes in Louisiana's coastal zone.

While the program is akin to free money, homeowners should not expect a check in the mail if selected for the grant. Instead, the state provides the funds directly to the company making the upgrades, and the homeowner will be on the hook for any repair costs that may exceed their grant. If you don't qualify for the Fortify Homes Program, you can always consider home improvement loans to fund a renovation.