Strengthen Mississippi Homes 2026: Limited Interest Forms Open for Wind Pool Policyholders
The current Strengthen Mississippi Homes process is limited to eligible Mississippi Windstorm Underwriting Association (MWUA / Wind Pool) policyholders in Hancock, Harrison, and Jackson counties. Submitting an Interest Form does not guarantee eligibility, selection, funding, a $10,000 award, or authorization to begin roofing work.
Do not start grant-related roofing work, hire an evaluator, or sign a grant-related construction contract based only on submitting the Interest Form. Wait for instructions from the Mississippi Insurance Department.
Updated August 8, 2026: The Mississippi Insurance Department currently has Strengthen Mississippi Homes Interest Forms available for a limited first group of Mississippi Windstorm Underwriting Association policyholders.
The current phase applies only to qualifying Wind Pool policyholders in Hancock, Harrison, and Jackson counties. Homeowners need their MWUA policy number, and grant recipients must have maintained qualifying Wind Pool coverage for three consecutive policy years before becoming eligible to apply for a Strengthen Mississippi Homes grant.
Not a statewide unrestricted grant application period.
Current Wind Pool eligibility requirements apply.
Hancock, Harrison, and Jackson.
Not guaranteed. Actual award depends on program approval.
Current 2026 program status
What Is Open in the Strengthen Mississippi Homes Program?
The Mississippi Insurance Department currently provides an online Strengthen Mississippi Homes Interest Form for a limited group of homeowners insured through the Mississippi Windstorm Underwriting Association, commonly called the Wind Pool or MWUA.
The active Interest Form is currently limited to qualifying Wind Pool policyholders with homes in Hancock, Harrison, and Jackson counties.
This should not be confused with an unrestricted statewide grant opening. The Interest Form allows the program to identify and verify homeowners who may qualify for the current phase. The state then contacts selected homeowners with additional instructions.
Use the state program page for the current Interest Form, eligibility requirements, FAQ, and future program announcements.
Current first-phase requirements
Who Can Submit a Strengthen Mississippi Homes Interest Form Right Now?
The present Interest Form has narrower requirements than the broader long-term Strengthen Mississippi Homes program. Homeowners should confirm every applicable requirement through the Mississippi Insurance Department before submitting.
Current Wind Pool Policy
You must currently be insured through the Mississippi Windstorm Underwriting Association for the active Interest Form.
Three Consecutive Policy Years
The current state instructions say grant recipients must have been insured through the Wind Pool for three consecutive policy years before eligibility.
Eligible Coastal County
The active Interest Form currently applies to properties in Hancock, Harrison, and Jackson counties.
MWUA Policy Number
You need your current Wind Pool policy number when completing the official online Interest Form.
Additional Published Program Requirements
- The property must be an owner-occupied single-family primary residence.
- The home must be in good repair.
- An in-force homeowners insurance policy is required.
- Flood insurance is required when the property is located in a Special Flood Hazard Area.
- Qualifying wind insurance must remain in force through completion of the mitigation work.
- Applicable coastal properties must meet the program's jurisdiction and building-code requirements.
- Townhomes, rental properties, condominiums, and mobile homes do not qualify under the currently published program rules.
Review policy, property, insurance, evaluator, contractor, and cost questions before submitting the state Interest Form.
Current geographic scope
Which Mississippi Gulf Coast Counties Are Included Right Now?
The current Interest Form is limited to qualifying Wind Pool policyholders in Mississippi's three lower coastal counties. Living in one of these counties alone does not establish grant eligibility.
Hancock County
Includes Bay St. Louis, Waveland, Diamondhead, Kiln, and surrounding communities.
Harrison County
Includes Gulfport, Biloxi, Long Beach, Pass Christian, D'Iberville, and surrounding communities.
Jackson County
Includes Ocean Springs, Pascagoula, Gautier, Moss Point, and surrounding communities.
Program eligibility depends on the Wind Pool policy, insurance history, property, program requirements, available funding, verification, and selection by the Strengthen Mississippi Homes program.
Keep each stage separate
What Happens After You Submit the Interest Form?
The Interest Form is an initial step. It is not the same as receiving a grant award, obtaining authorization to hire a contractor, or receiving permission to begin a FORTIFIED Roof project.
Submit the Interest Form
The homeowner submits the official online form with the required MWUA policy information.
Program Verification
Strengthen Mississippi Homes staff verify the submitted information and determine whether the homeowner can move forward in the current process.
Selection and Instructions
Selected homeowners are contacted by the program with additional instructions. Submission alone does not guarantee selection.
FORTIFIED Evaluator
If selected, the homeowner receives program instructions concerning the independent FORTIFIED Evaluator and required evaluation process.
Approved Contractor Process
The project must follow Strengthen Mississippi Homes contractor and construction requirements rather than an ordinary unrestricted reroof process.
Project and Documentation
The approved work, documentation, evaluation, and FORTIFIED certification process must be completed before grant payment.
The Mississippi Insurance Department FAQ states that the grant-award notice schedule is under development. Applicants should wait for direct program communication instead of assuming a particular approval date.
Current program amount
How Much Can a Strengthen Mississippi Homes Grant Provide?
The current Mississippi Insurance Department FAQ states that a Strengthen Mississippi Homes grant can cover up to $10,000 in qualifying costs for the roof upgrade required to reach the FORTIFIED Roof level.
The amount is a program maximum for the current grant process. A homeowner must first meet the applicable requirements, be selected, receive an award, follow the authorized process, and successfully complete the required project and documentation.
The state FAQ says the grant is not a loan and does not have to be repaid. Only one grant is available per household.
Grant payment is made directly to the authorized contractor after completion of the project, submission of the required paperwork, and issuance of the FORTIFIED certificate by IBHS.
What the Current Grant May Cover
- Up to $10,000 in qualifying FORTIFIED Roof mitigation costs
- Work included in the approved program scope
- Approved construction required to reach the FORTIFIED Roof level
- Payment to the authorized contractor after successful completion and documentation
What the Homeowner May Still Pay
- The independent FORTIFIED Evaluator fee
- Any approved project cost above the grant award
- Repairs or upgrades outside the approved grant scope
- Separate additional work requested by the homeowner
Mississippi legislation increased the program's statutory grant ceiling, but the current Mississippi Insurance Department FAQ states that the active grant process provides up to $10,000. Homeowners should rely on current MID program information and their individual grant-award documents rather than assuming the statutory ceiling is the amount currently available.
What the program actually funds
This Is a FORTIFIED Roof Grant — Not Free Money for Any Roof Replacement
Strengthen Mississippi Homes is a mitigation program designed to help qualifying homeowners retrofit their homes to the FORTIFIED Roof standard.
It is not a general roof-repair rebate, unrestricted roofing voucher, or automatic reimbursement for a roof that a homeowner has already replaced.
The FORTIFIED process includes specific roof-system requirements, independent evaluation, documentation during construction, and verification before IBHS issues a FORTIFIED designation.
FORTIFIED construction includes requirements intended to improve how the roof deck remains attached during severe wind.
The roof deck receives a qualifying water-resistive system designed to reduce water entry if the primary roof covering is damaged.
Eaves, rakes, starter areas, drip edge, and other perimeter details follow applicable FORTIFIED requirements.
A qualified FORTIFIED Evaluator documents the project and provides information to IBHS for designation review.
The Mississippi Insurance Department FAQ states that a FORTIFIED designation lasts five years and may require re-designation to remain current.
Homeowners outside the current phase
What If You Do Not Have a Mississippi Wind Pool Policy?
If you are not currently insured through MWUA, do not have the required Wind Pool policy history, or your home is outside Hancock, Harrison, and Jackson counties, the current Interest Form is not intended for you.
The Mississippi Insurance Department states that Strengthen Mississippi Homes grant rounds will open periodically and that specific dates will be announced in advance. Homeowners outside the current phase should monitor the official program page rather than assuming a future opening date.
If your roof is actively leaking or has significant damage, address immediate protection and repair needs separately from the grant process. Future program availability is not guaranteed for a particular homeowner or project.
Related Mississippi roofing resources
Roofing Information for Mississippi Gulf Coast Homeowners
Strengthen Mississippi Homes Checklist
Review policy, property, insurance, evaluator, contractor, and cost questions before submitting.
Open the checklist → FORTIFIED RoofingFORTIFIED Roofing in Mississippi
See how construction details, evaluation, documentation, and designation fit together.
Explore FORTIFIED roofing → Roof ReplacementRoof Replacement in Mississippi
Compare repair and full roof replacement options for Mississippi Gulf Coast homes.
Review roof replacement → Roofing CostsMississippi Roof Replacement Cost
Review the main factors that influence the cost of a complete roofing project.
Review cost factors →Verify before taking action
Use the Mississippi Insurance Department for Grant Decisions
Strengthen Mississippi Homes is administered by the Mississippi Insurance Department. Program requirements, eligibility, selection, grant amounts, application periods, authorized contractors, evaluation rules, and award decisions are controlled by the program — not by Southern Home Improvement Center.
Check the latest program status before submitting information, paying an evaluator, hiring a contractor, or relying on a grant in your roofing budget.
Common homeowner questions
Strengthen Mississippi Homes Status FAQ
Is Strengthen Mississippi Homes open right now?
A limited Interest Form process is currently available for qualifying Mississippi Windstorm Underwriting Association policyholders in Hancock, Harrison, and Jackson counties. This is not an unrestricted statewide grant application period.
Is submitting the Interest Form the same as receiving a grant?
No. Submitting an Interest Form does not guarantee eligibility, selection, approval, funding, or authorization to begin roofing work.
Will I receive $10,000 if I submit the form?
No. The current program provides grants of up to $10,000 for qualifying approved projects. The maximum is not an automatic payment, and an Interest Form is not a grant award.
Is the current grant amount $10,000 or $15,000?
The current Mississippi Insurance Department FAQ states that the grant can cover up to $10,000. Although Mississippi legislation increased the statutory ceiling, homeowners should rely on the current program rules and their individual award documents rather than assuming that $15,000 is available.
Can I replace my roof now and get reimbursed later?
Do not assume so. Work must follow the Strengthen Mississippi Homes process. Roofing completed outside the authorized grant process is not automatically eligible for reimbursement.
Do I need a FORTIFIED Evaluator?
Yes, the program requires an independent FORTIFIED Evaluator as part of the approved process. The Mississippi Insurance Department states that the homeowner is responsible for the evaluator fee.
Does the grant pay the evaluator fee?
No. The current state FAQ states that the evaluator fee is not included in grant funding.
What if the roof costs more than the grant?
The homeowner is responsible for the difference between the grant award and the approved project cost.
Does the grant have to be repaid?
No. The Mississippi Insurance Department states that Strengthen Mississippi Homes grants are not loans and do not have to be repaid. Only one grant is available per household.
What if I do not have a Wind Pool policy?
The current Interest Form is limited to qualifying MWUA policyholders in Hancock, Harrison, and Jackson counties. Monitor the official Mississippi Insurance Department page for future grant rounds rather than assuming a specific future opening date.
Does SHIC decide who receives a Strengthen Mississippi Homes grant?
No. Southern Home Improvement Center does not determine program eligibility, select grant recipients, set grant amounts, approve applications, or control the timing of Strengthen Mississippi Homes funding.
Program information notice: Strengthen Mississippi Homes rules, funding, Interest Form availability, eligibility requirements, grant amounts, and application periods can change. Information on this page reflects publicly available Mississippi Insurance Department information reviewed on August 8, 2026. Always verify the current program requirements with the Mississippi Insurance Department before relying on a grant when making a roofing decision.
Mississippi Gulf Coast Roofing