Upcoming Application Dates:
Mobile County: April 7, 2026, at 9:00 AM
Baldwin County: April 9, 2026, at 9:00 AM
Mobile County: July 7, 2026, at 9:00 AM
Baldwin County: July 9, 2026, at 9:00 AM
Funds are committed on a first-come, first-served basis. The portal closes the moment all grants are gone. Being even a few minutes late can mean waiting another quarter.
What Is FORTIFIED?
FORTIFIED is a construction standard developed by the Insurance Institute for Business and Home Safety, a nonprofit research organization funded by the insurance industry. It goes beyond standard building codes to make homes more resistant to high winds, hurricanes, and storm damage - starting with the roof, which is the most vulnerable part of any home.
When a certified evaluator confirms your roof meets the FORTIFIED Roof standard, your home receives an official FORTIFIED designation certificate. That certificate is what qualifies you for insurance discounts and triggers payment to your roofing contractor from the grant.
The Strengthen Alabama Homes grant covers the cost of upgrading your roof to meet this standard, up to $10,000.
What the Grant Covers
The grant covers 100% of the roof upgrade cost up to $10,000. If the total cost of work exceeds that amount, the homeowner is responsible for the difference. Payment goes directly to your roofing contractor after your home receives its FORTIFIED designation certificate - you never handle the grant money yourself.
The grant does not cover the cost of the FORTIFIED Evaluation. That fee is paid directly to your evaluator and is the homeowner's responsibility.
Do You Qualify?
To be eligible, all of the following must apply:
- Owner-occupied, single-family primary residence in an eligible Alabama county
- Home must be in good repair and not listed for sale
- An active homeowners insurance policy is required at the time you apply
- Wind insurance policy required at completion of work
- Flood insurance is required if the property is in a Special Flood Hazard Area
- No condominiums, townhomes, mobile homes, or rental properties
- No income limits
- No roof insurance claim filed in the past 6 months
Prepare Before the Portal Opens
Grants go fast. Do all of this before your county's open date so you are ready the moment the portal opens.
Before you apply, make sure you can check these off your list:
- Reviewed the evaluator list and contacted at least one to confirm availability and fee
- Reviewed the contractor list
- IRS Form 1040 or 1040-SR located (all pages including signature) - or Social Security benefit statement if applicable
- Homeowners insurance declaration page ready
- Wind insurance declaration page ready (if a separate policy)
- Flood insurance declaration page ready (if in a Special Flood Hazard Zone)
- Vendor Disclosure Form downloaded, completed, and notarized - ready to upload after applying
- Calendar reminder set for 8:55 AM on your county's open date
- Laptop or desktop ready to use - do not apply from a phone
Use a laptop or desktop to apply. The grant website warns that smartphones do not fully display all aspects of the application. Do not apply from your phone.
Research evaluators now. After your documents are reviewed, you will be prompted to select a certified FORTIFIED Evaluator from an approved list. This must be done within 7 days. Contact several evaluators before open day to compare availability and fees - fees vary, and evaluators book up quickly around open dates. Evaluator fees are paid out of pocket by the homeowner and typically range from $300 to $500. A list of approved evaluators is at StrengthenAlabamaHomes.com/Home/Evaluators.
Browse the contractor list. After your evaluation, you will select three approved contractors to submit bids for the roof work. Familiarize yourself with the options at StrengthenAlabamaHomes.com/Home/Contractors before you apply so you are not starting from scratch when the time comes.
Gather your documents. You have 7 days after submitting your application to upload all required paperwork. Have everything ready before open day:
- Most recent federal IRS Form 1040 or 1040-SR, all pages, including your signature page. Do not submit Alabama Form 40, W-2s, or transcripts. If you receive Social Security, submit your most recent benefit statement showing your home address.
- Homeowners insurance declaration page
- Wind insurance declaration page (if wind is on a separate policy)
- Flood insurance declaration page (only if your property is in a Special Flood Hazard Zone)
- Vendor Disclosure Form - download, complete, and notarize before applying. Upload within 7 days of submitting your application.
How to Apply
Step 1: Submit your application. At 9:00 AM on your county's open date, go to StrengthenAlabamaHomes.com. Use a laptop or desktop - the program warns that smartphones do not fully display all aspects of the application. Enter your county and zip code. If funds are available, you will be allowed to proceed. Create your profile with your name, email, phone number, and mailing address, then submit your application. Do not click "New Application" more than once - the grant website warns that doing so can cost you your place in line or disqualify you from the grant entirely.
Step 2: Upload your documents. You have 7 days to upload all required documents. Do not wait. The grant office will not call you - watch your email closely. Every step that follows also carries a 7-day response window. Miss any deadline, and your application is terminated.
Step 3: Select your evaluator. Once your documents are reviewed and approved, you will receive an email prompting you to select a certified FORTIFIED Evaluator from the approved list. This must be done within 7 days. The evaluator will then contact you to schedule a home visit. You pay their fee directly; the grant does not cover this cost and is non-refundable regardless of the outcome.
Step 4: Complete the evaluation. The evaluator inspects your home and determines what roof work is needed to meet the FORTIFIED Roof standard. The evaluation is pass or fail. Homes that fail are not eligible for the grant.
Step 5: Select three contractors to bid. If your home passes, you will be prompted within 7 days to select three approved roofing contractors from the grant's approved list. Each contractor will contact you, inspect your roof, and submit a bid. Do not contact contractors to negotiate or change their bid amounts; doing so will terminate your application.
Step 6: Receive your award and choose your contractor. Once all three bids are submitted, you will receive your grant award letter showing the amount. Within 7 days, select your contractor. The contract is between you and the contractor - not the grant. Any cost above $10,000 is your responsibility. Confirm with your contractor how they handle overages before work begins.
Step 7: Complete the roof work. Your contractor and evaluator work together to complete and document the work. All work must be completed within 90 days of your grant award date. Once the Insurance Institute for Business and Home Safety confirms the work meets the FORTIFIED Roof standard and issues your designation certificate, the grant pays your contractor directly up to your award amount.
Step 8: Get your insurance discount and close out.
Take your FORTIFIED designation certificate to your insurance agent and ask for the FORTIFIED wind premium discount. Once your agent applies the discount and issues an updated declaration page, upload it to your account on StrengthenAlabamaHomes.com. This finalizes your application.
Documents Required
- Homeowners insurance declaration page
- Wind insurance declaration page (if a separate policy)
- Flood insurance declaration page (if applicable)
- Most recent IRS Form 1040 or 1040-SR (all pages, including signature page)
- Vendor Disclosure Form (download, complete, and notarize before applying)
Insurance Discounts
Alabama homeowners with a FORTIFIED Roof designation can save up to 35% on the wind portion of their homeowners insurance premium and may also receive a discount on their wind deductible. Contact your insurance agent for details specific to your policy.
About Strengthen Alabama Homes
The Alabama Legislature established the Strengthen Alabama Homes Act in 2011. The grant program launched in 2016 and is managed by the Alabama Department of Insurance. Funding comes entirely from insurance industry licensing fees - not state general fund dollars and not federal money. The goal is to lower insurance costs across Alabama while making homes more resilient to hurricane and wind damage.
Questions?
For general questions about FORTIFIED and the Strengthen Alabama Homes grant, contact Smart Home America.
For questions about your application, contact the grant office directly:
- Phone: 334-269-3550 or 1-800-433-3966
- Email: SAH@insurance.alabama.gov
- Website: StrengthenAlabamaHomes.com