Louisiana is investing another $20 mn in fortified homes, bringing total state-directed funding for fortified roof projects to $100 mn in 2026 as officials seek to reduce property losses and homeowners insurance costs.
Gov. Jeff Landry announced that $20 mn from the US Department of Housing and Urban Development will be transferred to Louisiana’s Restore ROOF program.
The funding targets residential properties, with the governor’s office saying the federal money will support homeowners in coastal areas.
The latest allocation sits alongside $80 mn already directed to the Louisiana Fortify Homes Program, administered by the Louisiana Department of Insurance. Insurance Commissioner Tim Temple joined Landry and Senate Insurance Committee Chairman Kirk Talbot for the September announcement.
Earlier in 2026, Louisiana lawmakers approved legislation allowing Louisiana Citizens Property Insurance Corporation to transfer $50 mn in remaining Hurricane Katrina and Rita bond assessment funds to LFHP.
The legislation expanded the amount available for grants after lawmakers and regulators identified unused bond resources.
LFHP is also projected to receive around $30 mn annually through taxes and fees collected by the Louisiana Department of Insurance from insurance companies and other regulated entities. Combined with the additional $50 mn transfer, the program received access to about $80 mn in funding this year.
Adding the new $20 mn HUD allocation brings Louisiana’s 2026 investment across fortified roof initiatives to $100 mn. The funding is split between Restore ROOF and LFHP rather than operating as one grant pool.
Landry said the investment forms part of Louisiana’s attempt to reduce financial barriers for homeowners strengthening properties against severe weather. His administration has linked wider use of fortified roofs with lower insured losses and pressure on homeowners insurance premiums.
Temple also tied stronger residential construction to the state’s property insurance market. He said lower storm losses should reduce insurance and reinsurance costs while supporting additional capacity from insurers operating in Louisiana.
LFHP provides grants of up to $10,000 for eligible homeowners upgrading roofs to the FORTIFIED Roof standard developed by the Insurance Institute for Business & Home Safety. Grant money goes directly to contractors after completed work receives the required certification.
The program applies to primary residences with a homestead exemption and requires an active residential insurance policy that includes wind coverage. Properties in designated flood zones also need the required flood insurance, while new construction, condominiums and mobile homes aren’t eligible.
Louisiana expanded LFHP eligibility during 2026 to include additional coastal parishes. A June lottery offered 3,000 grants as the Department of Insurance increased the geographic reach of the program.
The FORTIFIED standard uses construction requirements intended to reduce roof damage during hurricanes, tornadoes and other severe wind events.
Louisiana law also requires property insurers to offer premium discounts or rate reductions for qualifying homes built or upgraded to specified fortified standards.
The state operates a separate FORTIFIED Roof tax credit for homeowners who finance qualifying upgrades without an LFHP grant. That program provides a state income tax credit covering eligible expenses up to $10,000 per residence, subject to an annual statewide cap of $10 mn.
Homeowners receiving an LFHP grant aren’t eligible to claim the tax credit for the same fortified roof project. The two programs therefore provide separate financing routes for households seeking to upgrade qualifying properties.
Louisiana established LFHP in 2022, with the program taking effect in 2023. Lawmakers removed its original expiration date in 2024, making the grant structure permanent within the Department of Insurance.
State officials have since sought a recurring funding source rather than relying entirely on one-time legislative allocations. The approximately $30 mn expected annually from insurance-related taxes and fees gives LFHP a continuing funding base, while the $50 mn bond transfer provides additional capital for the current year.
The new $20 mn federal allocation extends the state’s fortified housing effort through Restore ROOF. Louisiana officials expect the combined $100 mn investment to increase the number of homes meeting stronger roof standards, with the longer-term objective of reducing catastrophe losses across hurricane-exposed communities.
