Interested in applying for the Alabama roof grant program? The Strengthen Alabama Homes (SAH) grant program provides up to $10,000 to Alabama residents for residential wind mitigation on existing, owner-occupied, single-family homes.
If you live along the Gulf Coast then you’re probably familiar with the unpredictability of weather during hurricane season, which is why having a FORTIFIED™ roof is so important in Alabama.
A FORTIFIED™ roof will help lessen the impact and damage from storms this season (and next!) because of the structural improvements designed to hold up to the extreme weather conditions from coastal storms and hurricanes. Not to mention having a FORTIFIED™ roof will save you hundreds on insurance!
The Strengthen Alabama Homes grant schedule happens quarterly with the next opening coming up for Mobile County on:
January 6th, 2025 at 9:00 am
April 1st, 2025 at 9:00 am
July 7th, 2025 at 9:00 am
and Baldwin County on:
January 8th, 2025 at 9:00 am
April 3rd, 2025 at 9:00 am
July 9th, 2025 at 9:00 am
Interested in applying for the grant? In this blog post we’ll show you how. We will guide you through the grant application process step by step so you can apply for the grant to help cover the costs to upgrade your home and receive the coveted FORTIFIED™ home certification.
Step 1: Create your profile
To apply for the SAH grant, homeowners must first register and create a profile on the SAH website.

You’ll need to answer questions and upload the required documentation including income verification (tax return form 1040) and proof of homeowner’s insurance (including any flood/wind coverage). You can verify your need for flood insurance by visiting FEMA’s website.
Step 2: Choose a certified FORTIFIED™ evaluator
The next step is to choose a certified FORTIFIED™ evaluator to complete a home evaluation or inspection. Here’s where Fortified Inspections can help.

As contractors with training based on standards established by the Insurance Institute for Business & Home Safety (IBHS), we can perform an initial review of the current condition of the home. We will also provide documentation of the steps needed for Roof, Silver or Gold FORTIFIED™ certification.



As FORTIFIED™ roof evaluators, we will perform a comprehensive evaluation of your home’s major systems of protection and provide a report showing upgrades to be FORTIFIED™.
RELATED: How to prepare for a FORTIFIED™ home inspection
We can then communicate with the contractor and report the upgrades needed for certification. There will be a small fee (paid by the homeowner) for the evaluation, which will be paid directly to us, the evaluator.
Step 3: Select a contractor and obtain bids
Once the home passes inspection to be FORTIFIED™, the homeowner will choose three contractors from a list of Strengthen Alabama Homes contractors to provide bids for the detailed work needed to upgrade to FORTIFIED™.
Compare all the bids paying particular attention to price and structural enhancements. Once all three bids are submitted, a grant award letter will be mailed to the homeowner.
Bids are valid, and your application will remain open for 90 days (about 3 months). The SAH program must receive a written response accepting or declining your grant allowance within the allotted time.
Do the research and select a contractor with a good reputation, a list of completed projects and client references.
Make sure you understand any roofing warranties and the company is licensed and bonded. Check the Better Business Bureau for information or complaints on any contractor. Professionalism and quality of workmanship are important—your home is a big investment.
Step 4: Contracting and the mitigation work
The contractor will receive a grant award letter (through email) on behalf of the homeowner from the SAH program before any mitigation work can begin. You can check your status by logging in to your SAH portal.
The SAH certified contractor will focus on key aspects of your home including structural enhancements like enhanced roof deck attachment, sealed roof deck, locked down edges, impact resistant shingles, pressure-rated windows and garage doors, chimney bracing, gable strength and load handling/continuous load path.
Once the mitigation work is completed and IBHS FORTIFIED™ designation is received, SAH will issue the payment up to the grant amount (visible only after the three bids are received) stated in the award letter.
Step 5: Finalizing the process
Based upon the enhancements and work completed on your home, you will receive a FORTIFIED™ designation from Roof (lowest), Silver or Gold (the highest) for your home. These improvements will help your home stand up to the damaging effects of wind during hurricanes and other storms.
Even though grant money is paid directly to the contractor, the contract for the mitigation work is between the Strengthen Alabama Homes contractor and the homeowner.
If there are any additional costs above the awarded grant amount, the homeowner is responsible for the difference. The grant money used for fortifying your home does not need to be repaid.
Once your home has been designated as FORTIFIED™, you do not want to let that expire. Your FORTIFIED™ roof will need to be re-certified every five years based upon the expiration date on your certificate (make a note on a calendar!). Don’t let that date slip by!
RELATED: How to Renew Your FORTIFIED™ Roof Certification in 2025
Fortified Inspections can help! Simply fill out our homeowner survey to ensure your home can continue to withstand the high winds and tornados caused by coastal storms.
And don’t overlook all those additional financial benefits that having a FORTIFIED™ home provides, saving you money and post-storm stress in the long run.
Don’t miss out on the Alabama roof grant program
Having your home FORTIFIED™ with an SAH grant is a smart investment! FORTIFIED™ homes have the structural upgrades provided by Strengthen Alabama Homes trained contractors. Protecting your home (and your family) from the high winds from coastal storms and hurricanes is one BIG benefit of a FORTIFIED™ roof. But there’s more!
Homeowners in Alabama can save up to 55 percent on the wind portion of homeowner’s insurance. Homeowners are also entitled to a tax credit of $3,000 for the mitigation.
Protecting your home with FORTIFIED™ improvements calculates to more money in your pocket while protecting one of your biggest investments. It’s a no-brainer. Click here for more information, pricing and ways to protect your home.