Strengthen Mississippi Homes Grant Program

Eligible Mississippi Wind Pool policyholders may qualify for up to $10,000 toward a FORTIFIED Roof designed to provide better protection against high winds and wind-driven rain.

Ensured Roofing helps Mississippi Gulf Coast homeowners understand the roofing requirements, contractor bidding process and installation standards involved in the Strengthen Mississippi Homes Program. As an experienced FORTIFIED roofing contractor, our team installs complete roof systems designed for coastal conditions and coordinates the required construction documentation with the homeowner’s certified FORTIFIED evaluator.

2026 Strengthen Mississippi Homes , Program Update

2026 Program Update

The current Strengthen Mississippi Homes application period is limited to eligible Mississippi Wind Pool policyholders who have maintained Wind Pool coverage for three consecutive policy years. Grant recipients are selected through a lottery. Homeowners should confirm current requirements directly with the Mississippi Insurance Department before contracting for any work.

See the Strengthen Mississippi Homes Program in Action

Ensured Roofing was honored to install one of the first certified FORTIFIED Roofs completed through the Strengthen Mississippi Homes Program. Watch this local news coverage to learn more about the program and the protection these roofing systems provide Mississippi Gulf Coast homeowners.

Video courtesy of the original Facebook publisher. Watch the original report on Facebook.

How the Strengthen Mississippi Homes Grant Works

The Strengthen Mississippi Homes Program may provide eligible homeowners with up to $10,000 toward the installation of a certified FORTIFIED Roof. After a homeowner is selected, a certified FORTIFIED evaluator must inspect the property and determine whether the home qualifies. The homeowner then obtains bids from approved contractors and selects the contractor who will complete the work.

Construction cannot begin until the homeowner receives an official grant award letter. After the roof is completed, the evaluator verifies that the installation meets the required standards and submits the necessary documentation. Grant funds are paid directly to the contractor after the project is approved and the FORTIFIED Roof designation has been issued.

Who May Qualify for the 2026 Program?

The property must be an owner-occupied, single-family home.
The homeowner must currently have a Mississippi Wind Pool policy.
The property must have maintained Wind Pool coverage for three consecutive policy years.
The home must pass an evaluation by a certified FORTIFIED evaluator.
The homeowner must be selected through the program’s lottery process.
Work cannot begin before the grant award letter is issued.
Condominiums, duplexes, mobile homes and manufactured homes are not currently eligible.

Program qualifications, funding and application periods may change. Homeowners should verify their eligibility with the Mississippi Insurance Department before making financial or construction decisions.

What Does the $10,000 Grant Cover?

The grant may provide up to $10,000 toward the cost of qualifying improvements required to obtain a FORTIFIED Roof designation. These improvements may include strengthening the roof deck attachment, sealing the roof deck against water intrusion, installing properly fastened drip edge and starter materials, improving roof penetrations and installing the roofing system according to FORTIFIED requirements.

The homeowner is responsible for costs exceeding the grant amount, including the evaluator’s fee and any repairs or upgrades that are not covered by the program. Receiving a grant does not necessarily mean that the entire roof replacement will be completed without out-of-pocket expense.

How Ensured Roofing Builds a FORTIFIED Roof

A FORTIFIED Roof is more than a standard roof replacement with additional paperwork. Every major component must work together to reduce wind damage and help prevent water from entering the home if the exterior roof covering is damaged during a storm.

Enhanced Roof-Deck Attachment

We inspect the existing decking and fastening pattern before the roofing system is installed. When required, the deck is re-nailed using qualifying ring-shank nails and the prescribed fastening pattern to improve resistance to wind uplift.

Sealed Roof Deck

The roof deck must be sealed to help protect the interior if shingles or metal panels are damaged or removed. Depending on the approved roof specification, this may be completed by sealing the decking seams or installing a full-deck self-adhered membrane. Ensured Roofing offers full-deck high-temperature ice-and-water protection as an enhanced system option.

Fortified Roof Edges and Starter

Drip edge and starter materials must be installed using the required fastening patterns and overlaps. Ensured Roofing uses fully adhered starter along the eaves and rakes to strengthen the areas most vulnerable to wind uplift.

Properly Installed Roof Covering

Shingles are installed with six nails per shingle in accordance with the approved fastening requirements. Metal roofing systems are installed using compatible components and attachment methods appropriate for Gulf Coast wind and weather conditions.

Documentation and Final Certification

The installation must be documented throughout construction. We coordinate the required photographs and construction records with the homeowner’s certified FORTIFIED evaluator, who independently verifies the work and submits the designation package.

The Homeowner’s FORTIFIED Evaluator and Roofing Contractor Have Different Roles

The certified FORTIFIED evaluator and the roofing contractor perform separate jobs. The evaluator determines whether the home is eligible, prepares the required evaluation documents, verifies the construction and submits the completed designation package. The evaluator does not install the roof.

Ensured Roofing prepares the roofing proposal, completes the approved construction work and provides the installation documentation required by the evaluator. The final FORTIFIED designation is issued only after the completed project has been reviewed and approved through the FORTIFIED program.

Why Mississippi Gulf Coast Homeowners Choose Ensured Roofing

Experienced FORTIFIED Roofing Contractor

Our team understands the enhanced installation requirements, construction documentation and evaluator coordination involved in completing a certified FORTIFIED Roof.

Roofing Systems Built for Coastal Conditions

We install complete roofing systems designed to withstand Gulf Coast heat, heavy rain, salt exposure and high winds—not simply the minimum collection of materials needed to replace an aging roof.

Insurance and Storm-Damage Experience

Our background in insurance adjusting helps us recognize storm damage, document existing conditions and explain roofing and insurance issues clearly to homeowners.

Clear Proposals and Upgrade Options

We identify what is required for the approved FORTIFIED specification and clearly separate optional system upgrades so homeowners understand exactly what they are purchasing.

Lifetime Labor Warranty

Qualifying roof replacements are backed by Ensured Roofing’s lifetime labor warranty, providing continued protection after the grant process and final certification are complete.

Strengthen Mississippi Homes Program FAQs

How much does the Strengthen Mississippi Homes grant provide?

Eligible homeowners may receive up to $10,000 toward qualifying improvements required to obtain a certified FORTIFIED Roof. The homeowner is responsible for costs exceeding the grant amount, the certified FORTIFIED evaluator’s fee and any optional upgrades not covered by the program.

Can Ensured Roofing Determine whether I qualify?

No. Ensured Roofing can explain the roofing requirements and prepare a proposal, but the Strengthen Mississippi Homes Program determines grant eligibility and selects recipients. A certified FORTIFIED evaluator must also inspect the property and confirm that it meets the program’s requirements.

Who is eligible for the 2026 SMH grant?

The current 2026 application period is limited to eligible Mississippi Wind Pool policyholders who have maintained Wind Pool coverage for three consecutive policy years. The property must also meet the program’s current eligibility requirements and pass an inspection by a certified FORTIFIED evaluator. Grant recipients are selected through a lottery.

Does the grant gurantee that my roof will cost me nothing?

No. The grant provides up to $10,000 toward qualifying FORTIFIED Roof improvements. The homeowner must pay any construction costs exceeding the grant amount, the evaluator’s fee and any optional roofing upgrades not covered by the program.

What happens after my application is selected?

After selection, a certified FORTIFIED evaluator must inspect the home and confirm its eligibility. The homeowner then obtains bids from approved contractors and selects a contractor. Roofing work cannot begin until the official grant award letter is issued. After construction, the evaluator verifies the completed work and submits the required documentation. Once the project and FORTIFIED designation are approved, the grant payment is issued directly to the contractor.

Who pays the FORTIFIED evaluator?

The homeowner is responsible for hiring and paying the certified FORTIFIED evaluator. The evaluator’s fee is separate from the grant and should be included when planning the total project cost.

Can I choose upgraded roofing materials?

Yes. Homeowners may select qualifying materials and system upgrades, but costs exceeding the approved grant amount are the homeowner’s responsibility. Ensured Roofing will clearly identify the required FORTIFIED components and separate any optional upgrades in the roofing proposal.

Can a FORTIFIED Roof help lower my insurance premium?

A certified FORTIFIED Roof may qualify for insurance discounts, depending on the insurance company, policy and current Mississippi requirements. Homeowners should contact their insurance agent directly to confirm available discounts and documentation requirements.

Can roofing work begin before the grant award letter arrives?

No. Homeowners should not sign a construction contract authorizing work or allow roofing work to begin until the official grant award letter has been issued. Beginning construction too early may make the project ineligible for grant funding.

What happens if I am not selected for a grant?

Homeowners who are not selected may be able to apply during a future application period. They may also choose to install a FORTIFIED Roof without grant funding. Ensured Roofing can provide an estimate explaining the available roofing systems, required components and optional upgrades.

Documentation and Final Certification

Request a Strengthen Mississippi Homes Roofing Estimate

If you have been selected for the Strengthen Mississippi Homes Program and your certified evaluator has confirmed that your property qualifies, Ensured Roofing can prepare a detailed proposal for the required FORTIFIED Roof work.

Contact our team to schedule an inspection, review your evaluator’s documentation and discuss the roofing system and available upgrade options for your home.