5 States Offering Roof Repair or Retrofit Grants — Do You Qualify?

Roof damage is a common, costly risk for homeowners — but in some states and jurisdictions, government programs offer grants or incentives to help cover roof repairs, upgrades, or retrofit work (especially for storm resilience).

Sydney Blunt

05 Oct 2025 • 6 min read

Photo by Raze Solar / Unsplash

1. Louisiana — Fortify Homes Program

Louisiana’s Fortify Homes program provides grants of up to $10,000 to homeowners to upgrade their roofs to the FORTIFIED Roof standard (by the Insurance Institute for Business & Home Safety).
The grant covers construction costs needed to meet FORTIFIED Roof criteria.
Applicants must own and occupy the home, have a homestead exemption, maintain wind coverage insurance, and, if in a flood zone, flood insurance.
Grants are awarded by a lottery / registration system in open rounds.
The program has already awarded thousands of grants.

2. Alabama — Strengthen Alabama Homes

Alabama’s Strengthen Alabama Homes program offers grants up to $10,000 to fortify single-family homes (including roof upgrades) to the FORTIFIED standard.
There are no income limits; any homeowner with a primary residence in an eligible area may apply.
In many cases, the grant covers the full mitigation cost (up to the program cap); if work exceeds the limit, the homeowner pays the difference.
The program initially launched in Mobile and Baldwin counties.
Applications open quarterly, and applicants must submit bids from approved contractors and undergo a FORTIFIED evaluation.

3. Washington, D.C. — SFRRP Roof Repair Grant

In D.C., the Single Family Residential Rehabilitation Program (SFRRP) offers grants up to $20,000 specifically for exterior roof replacement or repair (gutter and roofing work) under the program.
This roofing grant is limited to exterior roofing and gutter work (not interior structural).
Homeowners must own and live in the home for at least 3 years, be current on taxes, maintain homeowner’s insurance, and meet specified income limits.
There is a combined cap: the roof grant + accessibility improvements cannot exceed $50,000.

4. Florida — My Safe Florida Home / Home Hardening Grants

Florida’s My Safe Florida Home program provides matching grants (state pays $2 for every $1 spent) for eligible wind-mitigation home upgrades, including roof reinforcement.
The maximum grant amount is $10,000 per home.
The state legislature has allocated $280 million for the 2025–2026 cycle to expand this program.
Lower-income households may qualify for full grants (no matching share required).
Homeowners must first receive a wind-mitigation inspection via the program before applying for grants.

5. South Carolina — SC Safe Home Mitigation Grant Program

South Carolina’s SC Safe Home program (through the state Department of Insurance) is a mitigation grant program that includes support for storm resilience measures like roofing.
The 2025 application portal opened July 1, 2025.
Homeowners should review the application process and ensure they have required documentation; grant rounds may open periodically.

Additionally, South Carolina’s Housing Trust Fund (HTF) supports home repair grants for low-income homeowners, covering major systems including roofing. Under the HTF’s Critical Home Repair Program, repairs up to $30,000 are eligible; the Home Repair Program (which can reach $75,000) likewise covers structural systems including roofs.

🏡 USDA / Rural Areas — Section 504 Home Repair Grants & Loans

For homeowners in eligible rural areas across many states (including those above), the USDA Section 504 Single-Family Home Repair program provides grants and loans:

Grants (non-repayable) of up to $10,000 are available to very-low-income homeowners age 62 or older, specifically to remove health or safety hazards — and roof repair or replacement can qualify under that scope.
In presidential disaster zones, the grant limit may increase to $15,000.
Loans (low-interest, fixed 1 %) up to $40,000 are available for general home repairs or improvements, including roofing, for homeowners who don’t qualify for grants.
Combined grants + loans can reach $50,000 (or more in declared disasters) depending on location.
Applications are typically accepted year-round through USDA Rural Development offices, subject to funding availability.
The property must be in an eligible rural area under USDA definitions.

Important Notes & Tips Before You Promote

Program status changes: Some grants are offered only in specific rounds or cycles; others may open and close depending on funding.
Matching / cost-share rules: Some programs require the homeowner to contribute part of the cost (e.g. Florida’s matching formula), while others (e.g. Alabama) cover the full mitigation up to their cap.
Scope & standards: Many grants are tied to specific resilience or mitigation standards (e.g. FORTIFIED). Simple or cosmetic roof repairs may not qualify.
Technical & contractor requirements: Evaluations, certified contractors, building permits, and compliance documentation often are mandatory.
Overlap and stacking: In some places, you may combine multiple programs or stack local, state, and federal assistance—but always verify that one program’s rules do not disqualify another.
Verify by county / zip code: Some programs are state-wide; others only cover certain counties or zones (especially coastal or storm-prone areas). Always include a disclaimer to check eligibility in your region.

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