06/10/2026
Community Development Committee, Chaired by Council Vice President Matthew Willard, advances Fortify NOLA, a $635,375 Fortified Roof Gap Funding Program
NEW ORLEANS, LA — The New Orleans City Council’s Community Development Committee, chaired by Council Vice President Matthew Willard, voted today to advance Fortify NOLA, a $635,375 Fortified Roof Gap Funding Grant Program that will help income-qualified homeowners cover the remaining costs to install a fortified roof, building on the Louisiana Fortify Homes Program.
“Fortify NOLA is about making sure eligible Orleans Parish homeowners have a real opportunity to benefit from the Louisiana Fortify Homes Program and the protection it provides,” said Council Vice President Matthew Willard. “Fortified roofs have already helped protect homes across the state from severe storm damage, but many families still can’t afford the upgrade. By closing this affordability gap, we’re helping longtime residents stay in their homes, lowering insurance premiums, reducing repeated repair costs, and strengthening neighborhoods across New Orleans.”
The committee’s action comes as the Louisiana Department of Insurance (LDI) continues accepting applications for its largest fortified roof lottery ever: a $30 million round closing at 5:00 p.m. on June 19. The city’s Fortify NOLA program provides up to the full reasonable cost of a fortified roof for families below 80% area median income, and up to $5,000 to families between 80-120% area median income. Eligible Louisiana Fortify Homes Program winners will be invited to apply for the Fortify NOLA program with the New Orleans Redevelopment Authority (NORA). The program is a collaboration among the New Orleans City Council, the Housing Trust Fund Advisory Committee, the Mayor’s Office of Community Development, NORA, LDI, and local housing and construction partners working to expand resilience across the city.
“The Administration has been working with Councilmember Willard's team to secure gap funding for the State's fortified roof program since the beginning of the term. This gap funding will allow residents to take advantage of the $10,000 grants from the State,” said Communications Director for Mayor Moreno, Isis Casanova. “Prior to this commitment, about half of New Orleans residents who won the grant could not secure it due to the high remaining cost of replacing their roof. Unlocking this new funding will allow more New Orleans residents to make it through the grant process, get a new, more resilient, roof, and see a reduction in their insurance cost, which has become untenable for so many New Orleanians."
“The Fortified Roof Gap Funding Program will be an essential tool to assist families that receive LDI grant funds that are still in need of assistance to bridge the cost of a fortified roof,” said New Orleans Redevelopment Authority Executive Director, Brenda Breaux. NORA is excited to implement this program and the continued partnership,”
“With over 13,000 Fortified roofs in our state, Louisiana is quickly becoming a national leader in resilient construction,” said Louisiana Commissioner of Insurance, Tim Temple. “Through Fortify NOLA, New Orleans is helping to lead the way as we work to demonstrate how state-local partnerships can make insurance more available and affordable for consumers across Louisiana and across the country.”
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Contact:
Courtney Fleming
Chief of Staff
Council Vice President Matthew Willard
[email protected]
504.658.1060
