State Grant Program Denies Elderly PSL Couple Hurricane Window Help
My Safe Florida Home disqualifies homeowners who have shutters — even if they can't physically install them
WHAT HAPPENED: An elderly Port St. Lucie couple in their 80s was denied a My Safe Florida Home grant to replace deteriorating 20-year-old windows because they already have hurricane shutters — shutters they cannot physically put up due to age and medical conditions.
WHAT IT MEANS: The state program designed to help Florida's most vulnerable homeowners harden their homes against hurricanes disqualifies applicants who already have shutters from receiving grants for impact windows. For homeowners who are elderly or disabled, that policy creates a gap: they own shutters they cannot deploy, and they cannot get funding to replace failing windows. A mitigation expert told WPTV the leaking windows would let water inside the home and warned that lacking working protections could jeopardize homeowners' insurance coverage.
WHO IS AFFECTED: Helen and Alfred Nonnemacher of Port St. Lucie, where Alfred is recovering from a stroke. A Jensen Beach resident, Kimberly Caldwell Blazie, reported the same problem due to her disability. Statewide, data released in October 2025 showed only 33% of more than 120,000 applicants received grants during the last cycle. No current-year approval data is available.
WHAT WE DON'T KNOW: The Nonnemachers' original inspection report is no longer available. The state has not disclosed how many disability waiver exemptions have been filed or approved, nor how many applicants face this specific shutters-versus-windows disqualification.
WHAT TO WATCH: Florida CFO Blaise Ingoglia's office said a disability waiver exemption can be filed at MySafeFLHome.com and that a team member would contact the Nonnemachers directly. Caldwell Blazie has already been approved through that waiver process and is awaiting contractor work. The CFO's office says funding will not run out before exemptions are reviewed. No specific deadline has been announced.
This article was generated with AI assistance using publicly available information. It was reviewed and approved by a human editor before publication. TC Sentinel uses AI writing tools in accordance with FTC guidelines.