October
3, 2006
GALLAGHER ANNOUNCES
PARTNERSHIP WITH LOCAL
NON-PROFIT TO STRENGTHEN
HOMES AGAINST HURRICANES
75
Low-Income Homeowners to
be Served in Pinellas
TALLAHASSEE—Chief
Financial Officer Tom
Gallagher announced
today that 75 low-income
homeowners will soon be
safer from hurricanes
thanks to a new
partnership between
Homes for Independence
and the My Safe Florida
Home program. Through
the partnership,
homeowners will receive
free home inspections
and assistance to make
improvements that will
strengthen homes against
catastrophic losses.
“Partnering with faith-
and community-based
groups to help fortify
low-income homes in
Florida is mission
critical to protecting
families and reducing
property losses,” said
Gallagher, who oversees
the My Safe Florida Home
program. “Through these
partnerships, we will be
able to leverage
resources and help
thousands of Floridians
before the end of this
hurricane season.”
Through the Volunteer
Florida Foundation,
which administers the
Florida Hurricane Relief
Fund, Homes for
Independence is teaming
up with the My Safe
Florida Home program to
fortify the homes of up
to 75 low-income
homeowners in Pinellas
County. My Safe Florida
Home is matching over
$185,000 with the
resources of the Homes
for Independence. A
homeowner can earn no
more than 80 percent of
the Annual Median Income
(AMI) to qualify for
this assistance. AMI
varies by county.
“Homes for Independence
is proud to be part of
the roll out on this
innovative partnership.
We are confident it will
complement our existing
programs nicely, as well
as be a tremendous
benefit to the
community. I see a
tremendous need and my
congratulations to the
State for recognizing
this and acting on it!
We are all very excited
to be part of the My
Safe Florida Home
program,” said Lori
Kreisle, vice-president
of Homes for
Independence.
Participating homeowners
will receive free home
inspections to determine
what improvements can be
made to strengthen their
homes against hurricane
damage. Following an
inspection, homeowners
will receive assistance
to make recommended
improvements.
“In our long-term
recovery work following
the last two hurricane
seasons, we at the
Florida Hurricane Relief
Fund have learned the
enormous value of
partnering with
community and
faith-based groups,
organizations that know
their communities and
are effective partners
in accomplishing
important tasks,” said
Liza McFadden, president
of the Volunteer Florida
Foundation. “We are
honored to expand our
role to include
mitigation work with the
Department of Financial
Services to ensure
Florida’s low-income
residents get the help
they need to strengthen
their homes.”
Funding for the
partnership with
non-profit organizations
is possible because of a
$250 million
appropriation by the
Florida Legislature
during the 2006 Session
to create the Florida
Comprehensive Hurricane
Damage Mitigation
Program, now referred to
as My Safe Florida Home
and administered by the
Florida Department of
Financial Services.
To date, the department
has received more than
53,000 applications in
the mail from Floridians
eager to have free home
inspections. Nearly
5,000 inspections are
currently being done in
Dade, Broward and Lee
counties. Gallagher said
his goal is to have
12,000 inspections
completed before the end
of this hurricane
season, November 30.
To learn more about the
My Safe Florida Home
program, visit
www.mysafefloridahome.com.
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