By Shelton Weeks
The My Safe Florida Home program is an investment in Floridians, strengthening homes and lowering insurance costs.
I am not a fan of most government programs. I believe President Ronald Reagan got it right when he said, “The nine most terrifying words in the English language are ‘I’m from the government, and I’m here to help.’”
As a result of misalignment of incentives and other unintended consequences, most government programs do as much harm as good. I am also a fiscal conservative, which makes me a poor fit anywhere in the spectrum of today’s political landscape. Government spending on the national level is wildly out of control, with the ratio of debt-to-gross domestic product hovering at 1.25%.
Fortunately, Florida’s state government is required to operate with a balanced budget and has consistently achieved a surplus. I am a big fan of the balanced-budget requirement and what I consider to be Florida’s fiscally conservative operation.
Given my views of government, it is rare for me to see programs that I believe hit the mark in terms of being a good use of tax dollars and making Florida a better place to live. The My Safe Florida Home program is a rare exception. Funded by a Florida Legislature appropriation, it began in 2022 and has allowed thousands of homeowners to make needed improvements to their properties.
The improvements made under My Safe Florida Home enhance the resiliency of our communities. When hurricanes make landfall in Florida, older homes are always the most heavily damaged. As a result of significant growth in the state during the last few decades, Florida’s housing stock is newer than the national average — but the typical home is still almost 30 years old. Many of the older homes are owned by seniors and key members of the state’s workforce. Money spent on My Safe Florida Home can be viewed as an investment that helps ensure that the folks who keep the Florida economy functioning have homes that can withstand storms that are part of life in the Sunshine State.
Lower insurance costs are another significant benefit of improvements made under the program. Insurance is a large component in the total cost of homeownership and contributes directly to the housing affordability crisis facing the state. The average Florida homeowner’s insurance policy is now estimated to cost more than $5,000 per year. By helping to control the cost of home ownership, My Safe Florida Home contributes to housing affordability across the state.
In improving resiliency and preserving affordability, this program addresses two critical needs. The response by homeowners to the program has been very strong. Floridians are availing themselves of it, and the improvements they are making to their homes will pay dividends for the state in the years to come. In my opinion, this makes My Safe Florida Home a bit of a “unicorn” in terms of government programs. It makes Florida a better place to live and is a good use of tax dollars.