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Use It Or Lose It

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By JOHN W. ALLMAN

jallman@tampatrib.com

Published: December 20, 2008

TAMPA - Six months after accepting its last applications for grants and free home inspections, the My Safe Florida Home program has yet to reimburse thousands of homeowners for making hurricane-safety improvements.

Why the delay?

About 14,000 homeowners who were approved for grant assistance have yet to hire a contractor or complete planned improvements. The grant is meant to offset the cost of improving window and door openings, replacing a garage door or bracing a roof. It pays half of the cost up to $5,000. (Another 4,448 low-income residents will not lose funding because their repairs are being handled by government of nonprofit groups.)
Program officials blame the economy for the reluctance to spend.

"The CFO recognizes in an economy the way it is, people are more concerned about spending money they have been saving," said Tami Torres, program administrator for Chief Financial Officer Alex Sink. "If they're going to take advantage of it, the time to do it is now."

But if the money isn't spent before June 30, that funding goes back into the state's general fund, and homeowners who haven't completed improvements will lose their chance to recoup some of the cost.

Despite the lagging state economy, Sink is asking lawmakers to allocate an additional $25 million to the program next year.

The money would be used to inspect 100,000 more homes and make improvements for 2,500 more low-income residents.

Torres said the request for more funding could be jeopardized if the program is unable to spend all of its current allocation.

My Safe Florida Home was created in 2006 by the Legislature to provide free inspections to residents statewide and offer grants up to $5,000 for those who live within the state's wind-borne debris region, which typically extends inland about a mile from the coast. Much of Hillsborough County is outside that boundary.

Lawmakers allocated $250 million to meet a goal of 400,000 inspections and 35,000 grants awarded.

Both goals were exceeded, but the program encountered significant problems throughout its rocky 2-year effort.

The Tampa Tribune has reported for more than a year on issues with key portions of My Safe Florida Home, including discrepancies and errors in the inspection process; deficiencies with grant allocations, particularly for low-income residents; and complaints of professional misconduct by contractors hired to make safety improvements.

The program stopped accepting applications in July once it exceeded its goals. But officials are still trying to complete more than 25,000 outstanding inspections.

Inspectors are having trouble tracking down homeowners who either applied for an inspection but have yet to schedule it, those who scheduled an inspection then canceled it and those who applied but aren't technically eligible because they don't live in a single-family house.

As for the outstanding grants, My Safe Florida Home plans to try and contact grant recipients in early 2009 to remind them time is running out. "They have six months to take advantage of it," Torres said.

Lawmakers say any request for additional money next year will likely face tough competition because of limited state funds.

State Rep. Rich Glorioso, R-Plant City, said he would like to see the program continue if funds are available.

"We'll just have to see how it prioritizes out," Glorioso said. "We need to look at both sides. A couple of years ago there were some major problems with the inspectors. I'd like to see us start getting more information on the results so people can say this is a worthwhile program."

WHO TO CALL

If you have questions about an outstanding inspection or grant reimbursement, call the My Safe Florida Home program at 1-866-513-6734.

Reporter John W. Allman can be reached at (813) 259-7915.

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