Strengthen Alabama Homes (SAH) is a state program that grants eligible Alabama homeowners up to $10,000 to upgrade their roofs and better protect against severe storms, strong winds, and wind-driven rain. Managed by the Alabama Department of Insurance and 100% funded by the state’s insurance industry, the program helps you upgrade your roof to the FORTIFIED standard — a wind-resistant construction benchmark — and earn a discount on your Alabama home insurance.
To qualify to receive a grant, you must meet certain eligibility requirements. You should also be prepared to pay certain costs out of pocket, including a fee for a mandatory home evaluation and any project costs exceeding $10,000.
Who qualifies for a Strengthen Alabama Homes grant?
As long as your home meets the following requirements, you may be eligible to receive a grant through the Strengthen Alabama Homes program:
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The home must be located in a participating county and serve as your primary residence.
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The home cannot be a condominium, mobile home, rental property, or townhome.
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The home must be in good repair.
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The home cannot be listed for sale at any time during the process.
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You must have an active home insurance policy before the grant is paid.
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You must have proof of active wind insurance by the completion of the mitigation project (this may be part of your home insurance policy).
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You must have flood insurance if the home is in a Special Flood Hazard Area (SFHA).
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You must get a home evaluation from a certified FORTIFIED Evaluator approved by the SAH program.
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You must not have filed a roof-related home insurance claim in the last six months.
Note: There is no income limit to qualify.
What the Strengthen Alabama Homes program covers and what it costs out of pocket
The grant covers up to $10,000 in mitigation costs to bring your roof up to the FORTIFIED construction standard developed by the Insurance Institute for Business and Home Safety (IBHS). FORTIFIED goes beyond normal building code requirements to make homes more resistant to winds and storm damage. To meet the standard, roofs typically need:
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Strong roof edges made of materials that resist wind and prevent the roof from ripping away from the home
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Sealed roof decks that prevent shingles, metal panels, or tiles from ripping off the roof and exposing the wood underneath
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Ring-shank nails (nails with a ridged shaft for a stronger grip) installed in a pattern that prevents the roof deck from detaching from the home
The program pays up to $10,000 to the contractor the homeowner hires to perform the work, but you must cover any project costs exceeding that amount.
Importantly, homeowners are also responsible for 100% of the cost of getting a FORTIFIED Evaluator to inspect the home when applying for the grant. Inspection costs vary depending on the evaluator.
How the mandatory insurance discount works
Alabama homes with a FORTIFIED Roof designation receive discounts on the wind portion of their home insurance premium (the rate you pay to your insurer). The amount you can save depends on your home’s details, the age of your roof, your location, and which insurance company issued your policy.
How to apply for the Strengthen Alabama Homes grant and fortify your roof
Applications for the SAH grant are accepted on a first-come, first-serve basis. They only become available for specific counties on a rolling schedule. You can check the grant award schedule for your county. The process follows these steps:
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Create an online profile: Complete your online profile and apply on the SAH website. Once you submit your information, SAH will review your application and contact you if there are any issues. Required documents include:
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Your home insurance policy declaration page and your wind insurance declaration page (if it’s a separate policy)
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Your flood insurance declaration page if you live in a SFHA
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Your prior year’s Federal 1040 or 1040-SR form. If you received Social Security, you must submit your prior year's benefit statement.
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Your Vendor Disclosure Form, which must be notarized
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Select a FORTIFIED Evaluator: If your application is approved, you will receive an email to select an evaluator, which you must do within seven days. You can get quotes from multiple evaluators using this list provided on the SAH website.
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Complete the FORTIFIED Evaluation: The evaluator will come to inspect your home and give you a pass or fail grade that determines whether you qualify to receive a grant. At this point, you must pay for the evaluation.
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Choose three contractors for a bid: Once your grant is approved by the evaluator, you have seven days to choose three contractors to bid on the mitigation project. You can find a list of approved contractors on the SAH website. Once you have received three bids, SAH will inform you of the grant amount, and you will be notified of any out-of-pocket mitigation costs that you are responsible for.
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Select the winning bid: You have seven days to choose the contractor that you want to work with. This is the company that will perform all mitigation work on your home.
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Receive the grant: Once the mitigation work is completed by the contractor and your home receives its FORTIFIED Designation certificate, SAH will pay the grant directly to the contractor. You must pay any remaining balance due to the contractor.
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Submit the FORTIFIED Designation certificate to your insurer: Give your home insurance provider the certificate you received after the mitigation work was completed. Admitted insurers in Alabama must accept the certificate and provide a discount.
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Submit your new insurance declaration page to SAH: You can submit your new insurance details to SAH via your online account to complete the process.
Frequently asked questions
Do you have to pay back a Strengthen Alabama Homes grant?
The Strengthen Alabama Homes program provides grants, not loans — you do not need to pay anything back. There is no penalty for selling your home after you receive the grant, as long as the home was not for sale during the process. A study from the University of Alabama shows that the sale price of FORTIFIED homes is almost 7% higher than non-FORTIFIED homes.
Is the Strengthen Alabama Homes grant program legit?
Strengthen Alabama Homes (SAH) is a legitimate program managed by the Alabama Department of Insurance and funded by the insurance industry. Make sure you are only working with the official program by applying through the SAH website.
What is the Strengthen Alabama Homes income limit?
The grant program is not income-based. Eligibility requirements are based on the type of home, the condition of the home, the eligibility of the home to receive the grant, and other factors.
How much does it cost to fortify an existing roof?
The cost to fortify your roof depends on many factors, including the square footage of the roof, the pitch (slope) of the roof, the location of your home, and what improvements you need to make to receive the FORTIFIED designation. You can solicit bids from at least three FORTIFIED contractors to get an idea of the cost. Remember, even if you qualify for a Strengthen Alabama Homes grant, any project costs exceeding $10,000 will need to be paid out of pocket.
