TAMPA - The thousands of homeowners eager for a shot at state money to help reinforce their homes against hurricanes may have to wait only a week longer.

After the grant program was signed into law July 1, more than 23,000 people flooded state phone lines and a Web site with questions or to apply.

They have waited while the state does background checks on home inspectors and contractors who will work with the state on the grant program.

"Obviously we recognize we're in the middle of hurricane season and we want to move quickly," said Jeff Takacs, spokesman for the Department of Financial Services, which is running the program.

Called My Safe Florida Home, the $250 million program gives matching grants up to $5,000 toward the cost of fortifying homes against hurricanes. Homeowners first must request a home inspection, then wait for an inspector to visit and make a report on the home's condition.

The program is new, and Takacs couldn't say how long applicants might have to wait for an inspection or how long it might take for homeowners to get the grant.

The state has yet to announce the date residents may begin requesting an inspection. Takacs expects the state will be ready in about a week.

The grant would pay half the cost of up to $10,000 in improvements such as shutters, reinforcing garage doors or replacing shingles. Homeowners would pay the other half.

The program is aimed at homes built before building codes were toughened in the mid-1990s. Once an inspector completes a report detailing the improvements needed and the estimated cost, the homeowner can apply for the grant.

The state will be ready to accept grant applications Sept. 1, Takacs said.

Approved homeowners will select from a list of contractors sanctioned by the state. Only state-approved contractors may perform the work.

There are limitations.

Grants are for homes with an insured value of $500,000 or less and for homeowners only. You will have to provide the state proof of the insured value and homestead exemption.

Contractors Will Be Checked

The state is running checks on the contractors to be sure they are licensed, insured and certified and have not racked up complaints with the state Department of Business and Professional Regulation.

"Every contractor will be screened and not fly-by-night," Takacs said.

Inspectors must go through a similar process, conducted by the Federal Alliance for Safe Homes, that will include drug tests and criminal background checks.

The inspectors must be qualified in their field, trained and tested, said Leslie Chapman-Henderson, president of the alliance.

She said about 400 inspectors statewide should be qualified by the time the state is ready to receive requests from homeowners for the inspections, and more will follow.

That could be enough inspectors to conduct up to 8,000 inspections a week.

In addition to recommended improvements, the inspection report will rate the homes' ability to withstand storms, how much the improvements will boost that rating and estimate savings on insurance premiums from the work.

Random Inspections Planned

Once an application is approved and a contractor is accepted, homeowners will pay their 50 percent of the cost up front to the contractor. Once the work is finished, the state will pay the balance directly to the contractor.

The state background check and certification should ensure the contractors do the work, Takacs said.

To cut down on abuse, the state will send another inspector to the home to conduct random reinspections and have the finished work inspected also, Chapman-Henderson said.

GRANT FACTS

For information about the grant program, call 1-800-342-2762.

Some work covered: reinforce roof decking, add waterproof sealing to plywood roof deck joints, brace gable ends, upgrade shingles, replace garage door.

Reporter Neil Johnson can be reached at (352) 544-5214 or njohnson@tampatrib.com.