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SKH Eligibility — Who Qualifies for the Kentucky Roof Grant
The Kentucky Strengthen Kentucky Homes (SKH) program provides grants to qualifying Kentucky homeowners for FORTIFIED Roof designation work. The program is administered by the Kentucky Department of Insurance at insurance.ky.gov. This page explains who is likely eligible, what homeowner characteristics matter, and which project types qualify. Always confirm current eligibility with the program before applying — rules change annually.
Call (502) 643-7160 — free eligibility scoping call
Important: HECS does not decide SKH eligibility. The Kentucky Department of Insurance makes that decision per current program rules. What HECS does is perform the independent FORTIFIED Roof evaluation that supports an SKH application — so if your project appears eligible per the criteria below, HECS is the evaluator you name on your SKH application.
The basic eligibility pattern
SKH is designed for Kentucky homeowners who want to harden their homes against severe weather through FORTIFIED Roof, Silver, or Gold designation. While program rules are set by the Kentucky Department of Insurance and may change, the typical eligibility pattern includes these categories:
[VERIFY before publishing] The criteria below describe the general pattern. The current SKH program rules at insurance.ky.gov are the source of truth. Before publishing this page, John should confirm the current year’s criteria and amounts and update the [VERIFY] sections accordingly.
Homeowner characteristics that typically matter
- Property type: Primary residence, single-family home (1-4 unit dwellings typically qualify; rental and commercial properties often do not)
- Ownership: Homeowner must own the property (not a renter)
- Insurance status: Property must carry an active homeowner insurance policy with a participating Kentucky carrier
- Location: Property must be located in Kentucky
- Roof condition: Existing roof must be in a condition that can be brought to FORTIFIED standards (rot, structural damage, or inadequate deck attachment can disqualify or require additional corrective scope)
Project characteristics that typically matter
- Full reroof: SKH applies to full roof replacements, not repairs. The FORTIFIED Roof standard requires installation of the full FORTIFIED Roof package (sealed roof deck, ring-shank nails, drip edge, flashing, approved roof covering).
- Designation level: Most SKH applicants pursue FORTIFIED Roof (the first designation level). FORTIFIED Silver and Gold yield higher insurance discounts but require additional resilience measures.
- Approved roofing contractor: The roofing contractor must be qualified to install the FORTIFIED Roof package per the Kentucky FORTIFIED Roof Contractor Handbook (PDF).
- Approved evaluator: The FORTIFIED Home Evaluator must be on the official SKH directory at skh.ky.gov. HECS is on this list.
Eligibility decision flow
- You review the criteria above and confirm your home and project pattern-match.
- You contact HECS for a free scoping call to confirm the project is a fit for FORTIFIED evaluation.
- You apply to SKH through the Kentucky Department of Insurance at insurance.ky.gov, naming HECS as your approved evaluator.
- SKH reviews your application per current program rules and notifies you of grant decision.
- If approved: you proceed with the reroof + evaluation workflow described on the SKH Approved FORTIFIED Evaluator page.
- If not approved: you may still pursue FORTIFIED Roof designation for the insurance-discount path without grant funding.
What does NOT disqualify you (typically)
- Age of home — historic homes and new construction both can qualify (subject to deck condition assessment)
- Existing roof covering type — any covering can be replaced with an IBHS-approved product
- Geography within Kentucky — SKH is statewide; HECS serves all 120 counties
- Whether you have already had a contractor visit — SKH does not require pre-engagement with a contractor before applying
[VERIFY] If specific disqualifiers apply in the current year’s program rules (e.g., prior grant receipt, prior insurance claims history), John should add them to this list and remove the bullet points that don’t apply.
Related resources
- SKH process & timeline — what happens after you apply
- SKH cost & reimbursement — what the grant covers
- SKH contractor vs evaluator — why they must be different parties
- SKH Approved FORTIFIED Evaluator — full homeowner workflow
- Kentucky FORTIFIED Home Evaluator | HECS
How to confirm eligibility and start
- Phone: (502) 643-7160
- Email: [email protected]
- SKH program: insurance.ky.gov