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Condo leaders describe race to access My Safe Florida Home funds; urge clearer process and more funding
Summary
Dwight Hinkson, president of Las Vistas Inverry Condominium Association, described repeated attempts to secure My Safe Florida Home pilot funds after initial allocations ran out quickly. He urged stronger outreach, better portal design, and more funding for older 55+ condominiums facing major capital needs.
Dwight Hinkson, president of the Las Vistas Inverry Condominium Association, told the Broward County Housing Council that condominiums in Broward County are struggling to access state-funded mitigation grants under the My Safe Florida Home condo pilot program established by House Bill 1029.
Hinkson said the initial statewide pilot allocation (about $3 million) was exhausted within days after the portal opened in mid-November and that subsequent reopenings also filled quickly. He described repeatedly logging into the portal, preparing documents in advance and losing access when applications closed. "There's some relief out there but you have to be lucky enough to get it," Hinkson said.
Hinkson recommended that associations sign up for alerts, have documents uploaded before applications open, and save application progress as permitted; he said the program requires inspection/mitigation steps before applications are accepted. Hinkson also said his community recently completed its 50-year inspection and identified priorities including catwalk and balcony repairs; he added the complex is 13 buildings with 431 units on 17 acres and is primarily a 55-plus community on fixed incomes.
Council members and staff discussed outreach and assistance. A commissioner suggested contacting state Representative Jason Pizzo, who had provided his phone number to the council previously. Council members said district staff and partners are pursuing follow-up and monitoring related legislative proposals and funding requests.
Ending: Hinkson said he is awaiting the next funding tranche and encouraged other associations to prepare documentation and enrollment in alerts to improve their chances when funds re-open.
