Smart Home America develops programs, tools, and partnerships that connect resilient construction to better insurance outcomes, stronger communities, and more durable housing. Our projects span grant program development, policy advocacy, research, planning tools, and direct community support.
Contact us to learn how we can help your state or community.
Strengthen Alabama Homes Grant Program
Status: Ongoing
Alabama's statewide residential mitigation grant program is administered by the Alabama Department of Insurance. Smart Home America has been a foundational partner since its inception, providing training, technical assistance, and program development support. The grant provides eligible homeowners with funds to strengthen their homes against hurricanes and severe weather using FORTIFIED Roof standards, directly advancing insurance affordability and community resilience statewide. The program has expanded from its original Mobile and Baldwin County footprint to additional counties across Alabama. Learn More.
Resilience for All
Status: Active
A pilot grant program developed in partnership with American Family Insurance to help nonprofit builders in Minnesota and Wisconsin install FORTIFIED Roofs on new and rehabilitated affordable homes. Running from 2026 through 2027, the program provides participating nonprofits with free training, free technical assistance, and per-roof grant funding to offset the incremental cost of FORTIFIED upgrades. The project directly addresses the intersection of housing affordability, disaster resilience, and insurance accessibility, bringing the same resilient construction model that has proven effective on the Gulf Coast to communities in the upper Midwest. Learn More.
FORTIFIED Policy and Incentive Tracking
Status: Ongoing
Smart Home America actively supports the development of state-level legislation and insurance incentive programs that reward resilient construction. We track, document, and provide technical assistance for policy efforts across the country, helping translate on-the-ground program experience into model policy that states can adopt. States including Louisiana, Arkansas, Oklahoma, and North Carolina have developed grant programs and insurance incentive legislation with SHA's support. Learn More.
Louisiana Fortify Homes Program Development
Status: Ongoing
Smart Home America worked with the Louisiana Department of Insurance as subject-matter experts and technical assistance providers to develop the Louisiana Fortify Homes Program. We provided model resources from other state-based grant programs and conducted staff training to help the department understand how the program could function. These efforts contributed to the passage of Act 554 in 2022, which created the program. We continue to provide technical support and training for the grant program and the Louisiana Department of Insurance. Learn More.
Inland and Coastal Construction Code Supplements
Status: Active
These supplemental codes to the International Residential Code use FORTIFIED Home beyond-code recommendations to provide improved protection for communities and residents. Available in both coastal and inland versions, the Code Supplements are designed for adoption by local jurisdictions and municipalities seeking to raise their construction standards above the minimum floor set by building codes. Learn More.
Don't Goof When You Reroof
Status: Active
A public education campaign helping homeowners understand the value of getting a FORTIFIED Roof when it is time to reroof. The campaign guides homeowners through finding a qualified evaluator and roofer and highlights the real financial and protective benefits available. Learn More.
The Resilient Housing Planning Guide
Status: Completed and Active
A planning tool created to assist communities in better understanding their hazard risks, identifying mitigation and land use planning strategies, and providing structured feedback to planning consultants. The Guide bridges the gap between community resilience goals and actionable planning frameworks. Learn More.
Homeowners Handbook to Prepare for Natural Hazards
Status: Completed and Active
Smart Home America led the effort to update the format and content of NOAA Sea Grant's Homeowners Handbook for Gulf states. Developed in partnership with numerous subject matter experts and organizations, the Handbook is available for Alabama, Delaware, Florida, Hawaii, Louisiana, the Mariana Islands, Massachusetts, Mississippi, Texas, and Virginia, giving coastal homeowners practical, state-specific guidance on preparing for natural hazards. Learn More.
Alabama Coastal Insurance Shopper's Guide
Status: Completed
Created with the Alabama Center for Insurance Information and Research and the Coastal Alabama Partnership, this free guide features sections on buying homeowners insurance, coverage elements, flood insurance, a homeowner comparison checklist, and the top 10 questions to ask when buying insurance. Learn More.
South Alabama Online Code Catalog
Status: Deprecated
In Mobile and Baldwin Counties, each town, city, and county adopt building plans and laws independently. This Catalog provided public insight into and access to the ordinances and regulations adopted across jurisdictions, helping builders, residents, and policymakers navigate the local regulatory landscape.
Gulf Coast Mitigation Guidebook
Status: Deprecated
Developed under an agreement with the Gulf of America Alliance Gulf Star program, this Guidebook provides an overview of federal and state-based mitigation program resources, insurance, and tax incentives for resilient construction, as well as policies that promote hazard-mitigation practices across the Gulf Coast region. Learn More.