Gov. Jeff Landry announces new $20M grant program for fortified roofs in coastal Louisiana

Louisiana Gov. Jeff Landry announced Monday that the state plans to redirect $20 million in federal funding originally meant for affordable housing to instead launch another fortified roof grant program for homes impacted by recent hurricanes.

After storms in 2020 and 2021 caused homeowners insurance rates to shoot up, especially in coastal Louisiana, fortified roofs have emerged as one solution for people to save money on insurance premiums. Demand for grants to help build fortified roofs in the state so far has far outstripped supply.

"The overall goal is to reduce the financial barriers for our families that are seeking to fortify their homes," Landry said. "This demonstrates the strong commitment to proactive preparation rather than reactive rebuilding."

The proposed $20 million infusion brings the total amount that Louisiana has dedicated to fortified roofs this year to $100 million, Landry said.

While insurance companies often give discounts to homeowners with fortified roofs because they are built to a higher standard to withstand storms, Landry noted that insurance companies will be required to give the premium discounts starting in January 2027.

The $20 million for the new program would come from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development and was previously slated to go toward affordable apartment development. But the state is now asking the federal government to approve a reallocation of the money. A public comment period on the change is open until October 19.

If the feds agree that Louisiana can move the money, the new grant program would be called Restore Resilient Opportunities for Overhead Fortification, or the Restore ROOF program. The state's Office of Community Development would administer the money.

Details about when the program would open, application requirements and funding amounts were not immediately available.

Earlier this year, Landry and the Legislature allocated $30 million for grants to homeowners to build fortified roofs through the Louisiana Department of Insurance's existing fortified roof grant program. They also rerouted $50 million collected by the Louisiana Citizens Property Insurance Corporation, the state's insurer of last resort, toward that grant program.

Insurance Commissioner Tim Temple joined Landry on Monday to celebrate the effort.

"This truly is Louisiana's future to a more affordable homeowner's insurance, especially in coastal Louisiana," Temple said.

Program comes as demand outstrips supply

The new Restore ROOF initiative would be independent of the LDI's existing fortified roof grant program. Officially called the Louisiana Fortify Homes Program and set up as a lottery system, the LDI initiative gives homeowners $10,000 grants for stronger roofs that can withstand hurricane-force winds. The most recent application period closed in June.

Louisiana has over 15,000 certified fortified roofs, with 5,600 of those being built with state funding and about 9,000 from individuals who built them on their own dime, Temple said.

Still, fortified roofs remain out-of-reach for some even with help from the state's grant program. Homeowners are on the hook for costs over $10,000, along with evaluators and other fees. Some nonprofits are trying to fill the gaps by giving money to homeowners who otherwise could not afford the out-of-pocket costs.

The $20 million that Landry wants to put toward fortified roofs was originally slated to go to developers for affordable housing in areas impacted by Hurricanes Laura, Delta, and Ida in 2020 and 2021. It was the final tranche of $475 million from the Piggyback Resilience Initiative Mixed-Income, or PRIME, program for building affordable apartments.

State officials recently sent a letter to developers who had applied for the apartment grant money saying they were ending the program after considering a June statewide housing needs assessment.

On Monday, Landry said the state has access to many programs to spur affordable apartment development. He added that when somewhere reaches a critical mass of fortified roofs, that can help to eventually reduce the whole area's property insurance premiums.

"It really is like a high tide that lifts all boats," he said.

Editor's note: This story has been updated with corrected information from the Department of Insurance. In Louisiana, state grants have helped build roughly 5,600 fortified roofs while homeowners footed the bill for about 9,000 fortified roofs.

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