Strengthening Homes: SBP and Travelers Bring FORTIFIED Roofs to Families

When Hurricane Ida tore through New Orleans in August 2021, Freda Jones watched as rain poured into the home she and her late husband had built together decades earlier.

Born and raised in New Orleans, Freda has experienced numerous storms, including Hurricane Katrina. But Ida was different. Her home had already withstood years of wind and rain, but the roof failed under Ida’s impact.

Freda’s attempt to hire a roofing contractor in the wake of the hurricane only added to the strain of her recovery, leaving the work unfinished and her facing mounting costs.

“These repairs were vital for me to be able to stay in my home,” Freda said. “I knew I couldn’t do it alone.”

That’s when SBP stepped in to guide her through the recovery process.

Freda’s roof was replaced through the Louisiana Fortify Homes program, a statewide initiative that helps homeowners upgrade to the FORTIFIED Roof Standard, developed by the Insurance Institute for Business & Home Safety (IBHS). The standard focuses on keeping the roof attached during high winds – the point where storm damage most often begins – reducing interior damage and shortening recovery time.

Building Resilience through Partnership

Freda is one of hundreds of homeowners whose recovery has been strengthened through SBP’s long-standing partnership with Travelers, a collaboration focused on helping families rebuild homes to be resilient against severe weather events. SBP and Travelers are now expanding their reach to help more homeowners in need.

Travelers has awarded SBP a $1 million grant to support disaster recovery and resilience efforts across the Gulf South in 2026. The funding will allow SBP to:

• Construct 90 roofs to FORTIFIED standards, helping homes better withstand hurricane-force winds.
• Assist 400 homeowners with FEMA appeals, ensuring that disaster-impacted families can access the federal funding they need for critical repairs and rebuilding.
  

“Our goal is to ensure families like Freda’s can have peace of mind before the next storm hits,” said Carol Markowitz, Chief Executive Officer, SBP. “With Travelers’ support, we’re strengthening homes and reducing future risks.”

Since 2019, the partnership between SBP and Travelers has grown into a comprehensive approach to disaster recovery, offering rebuilding support and access to resources that would otherwise be out of reach for many families.
Through grants, donations, and matching gifts, Travelers has provided nearly $6 million in cumulative funding to support SBP’s work. Since 2019, SBP has completed 775 FORTIFIED roofs across the Southeast, with 565 of these roofs funded by Travelers, helping to raise the bar for resilient construction in the region.

“Travelers is deeply committed to increasing community resilience in the face of national disasters, particularly through better homebuilding standards,” said Erin Haberman, Senior Director of Community Relations at Travelers and Assistant Vice President of the Travelers Foundation. “Our partnership with SBP makes it easier for families to access upgrades that protect their homes from future storms, helping them hold onto what they’ve worked hard for and build wealth for future generations.”

Reducing Future Loss through Fortified Roofs

Recognizing that many low- and moderate-income homeowners cannot afford rebuilding costs even with state grants, the Louisiana Department of Insurance partnered with SBP and other nonprofits to bring the Fortify Homes Program to New Orleans. With support from Travelers and other partners, SBP helped close the funding gap so families aren’t forced to choose between safety and affordability.

“It was a ton of weight off of me,” Freda said. “The stress of trying to figure out my next step – I don’t have to carry that anymore.”

A retired nurse who once spent three years in a wheelchair after a car accident, she carries forward the legacy of her late husband, a New Orleans police officer killed in 2009. Today, she remains deeply involved in ministry, traveling across the region to help others reconnect with their faith and community after the pandemic’s isolation.

For Freda, the impact of SBP’s work – and of partnerships like the one with Travelers – is deeply personal.

“One day, my kids will have something that’s theirs,” she said. “We worked hard for this house, and now I know I can pass it on.”

She says she’s “forever thankful” to have been part of the Fortify Homes pilot program and hopes many more families will benefit from the work still ahead.

“There are so many people who need this help,” Freda said. “I’m just thankful I was able to benefit.”