Strengthen KENTUCKY homes Program

The SKH program grants up to $10,000 for homeowners to upgrade their roofs to the FORTIFIED™ Roof standard set by the Insurance Institute for Business & Home Safety (IBHS). The program will help Kentucky homeowners strengthen their roofs to better withstand tornadic winds.

The grant will cover up to $10,000 in construction costs for the roof upgrade and will be paid directly to the contractor upon completion of the project and submission of required paperwork, including the FORTIFIED™ certificate from IBHS. Homeowners are financially responsible for all costs beyond the full grant amount.

The wind mitigation standard adopted by SOH is known as the FORTIFIED™ Roof standard and was developed by the Institute for Business & Home Safety (IBHS). All materials used in the Fortified standard have been extensively tested and approved. Please refer to the IBHS site for more information about specific materials e.g., metal roof panels. More information about the FORTIFIED™ Roof standard is available at www.fortifiedhome.org. Wind mitigation consists of construction methods that strengthen a building against severe storms, high winds and wind-driven rain.

Homes with a FORTIFIED Home™ Designation in Kentucky receive discounts on the wind portion of their homeowner’s insurance premium. Per Kentucky H.B. 256 (2024), insurance rate reductions are mandatory for homes in Kentucky meeting FORTIFIED Home standards.

The grant program will open for the first time on March 1, 2026. Specific dates for each funding cycle will be announced in advance. We encourage you to check our website regularly or visit https://skh.ky.gov/.

Homeowners must visit http://skh.ky.gov to create a profile in the SKH system and complete an
application. This can be done at any time.

The property to be mitigated must be an insurable owner-occupied, single-family or multifamily, primary residence. A multifamily residence is defined as having four (4) units or less and requires participation from all owners of the property. The property may be a modular home but cannot be a condominium or mobile home.

Homeowners are only eligible for their primary residence. The home must also be in good repair and eligible for a FORTIFIED Home designation as determined by a FORTIFIED™ Evaluation and IBHS. Properties must meet eligibility criteria described in the FORTIFIED Standard and associated technical documents as published by IBHS.

A FORTIFIED™ Evaluation is performed by a FORTIFIED™ Evaluator (like Knockout Inspections) and is a required step in the grant process that determines whether the home can be upgraded under the SOH and what work is needed to upgrade the home. An evaluation is also performed after the work is complete to confirm the home was properly upgraded to the FORTIFIED™ Roof standard. Homeowners are responsible for paying the evaluation fee. A list of approved Evaluators is available here. Knockout Inspections would love to assist you!

Please contact SOH if you have questions concerning eligibility for the program. If you have questions about the FORTIFIED process or designation, please contact Knockout.