Coastal Mississippi homes face real risk every hurricane season. The Strengthen Mississippi Homes program was created by the Mississippi Insurance Department to help homeowners fortify their roofs against that risk, offering grant funding toward a FORTIFIED Roof upgrade built to the Insurance Institute for Business and Home Safety (IBHS) standard — including stronger roof deck attachment, sealed decking, and reinforced roof edges.

Sunbelt Roofs is a certified FORTIFIED roofing contractor serving the Mississippi Gulf Coast. Below, we break down current program status, eligibility, and how to get started.

Current Program Status (Updated Regularly)

Interest forms are open right now specifically for homeowners insured through the Mississippi Wind Pool (MWUA) in Hancock, Harrison, and Jackson counties.

This is not a full statewide rollout yet, and it is not first-come-first-served. Like Louisiana’s fortified roof grant program, funding is limited, and homeowners are typically selected through a registration or lottery process once a funding round formally opens.

If you’re outside these three counties, submit your interest anyway. Eligibility areas for programs like this have expanded before and may expand again.

What “Interest Form Open” Actually Means

Submitting an interest form is not the same as being approved or funded. It puts your name on record for the current round so you’re notified if the program opens further or if you’re selected. Think of it as step one, not a guarantee.

Eligibility Guidelines

To qualify for the Strengthen Mississippi Homes program, homeowners generally need to meet the following criteria:

  • Primary residence only — the home must be your primary residence, not a rental or vacation property
  • Wind Pool coverage — an active homeowners insurance policy with wind coverage through the Mississippi Wind Pool, for the current interest window
  • Structural soundness — the home must be in good enough condition for an independent FORTIFIED evaluator to verify before any work begins
  • Existing homes only — newly constructed homes typically don’t qualify; this program is designed for upgrading existing roofs
  • Grant terms can change — exact grant amounts and terms are set by the state and can shift between funding rounds, so always confirm current figures on the official Mississippi Insurance Department page before making plans

How the Process Works

  1. Submit your interest form through the Mississippi Insurance Department’s official program page
  2. Wait for selection — if chosen, you’ll receive instructions on next steps, including hiring a FORTIFIED-certified roofing contractor
  3. Evaluator inspection — an independent FORTIFIED evaluator inspects your roof and documents the project for IBHS certification
  4. Installation — your certified contractor completes the roof upgrade to the FORTIFIED standard
  5. Certification — once complete, the project is submitted for final IBHS FORTIFIED designation

Why Work With Sunbelt Roofs

Not every roofing company is equipped to handle a FORTIFIED-certified installation. It requires specific materials, exact documentation, and coordinated inspection steps that a standard reroof doesn’t involve — and working with a contractor who isn’t properly certified can put your grant eligibility at risk.

Sunbelt Roofs is a certified FORTIFIED roofing contractor already serving:

If you’re planning to apply for the Strengthen Mississippi Homes program, get a free roof assessment now so you’re ready to move quickly if your interest form is selected. All Sunbelt Roofs projects are backed by a standard 25-year labor warranty.

[Request a Free Roof Assessment] | Call (228) 222-5255

For full program details and to submit your interest form, visit the [Mississippi Insurance Department’s ].

Already checking eligibility in Louisiana too? See our [Louisiana Fortified Grant program].

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the Strengthen Mississippi Homes program open right now?

Interest forms are currently open for Wind Pool policyholders in Hancock, Harrison, and Jackson counties. Full program details and current status are available on the Mississippi Insurance Department’s site.

How much does the grant cover?

Grant amounts are set by the state and can change between funding rounds. Check the official program page for the current figure before budgeting your project.

Do I need a specific roofer for this program?

Yes. The program requires a FORTIFIED-certified contractor and an independent evaluator to document the work for IBHS certification. Sunbelt Roofs is certified to perform FORTIFIED installations across the Mississippi Gulf Coast.

What if I’m not in Hancock, Harrison, or Jackson county?

Submit your interest anyway. Eligibility areas have expanded in similar programs before, and getting on record early means you’re ready if that happens here too.

What’s the difference between this and the Louisiana Fortified Grant?

Both programs fund FORTIFIED Roof upgrades to protect against hurricane damage, but they’re run by different state agencies with different eligibility rules, funding amounts, and application windows. Mississippi’s program is currently limited to Wind Pool policyholders in three counties; Louisiana’s runs through the Louisiana Department of Insurance statewide. See our Louisiana Fortified Grant page for details on that program.