New Partnership Helps Residents Receive Funds to Storm-prep Homes

By Cayden Wemple. 

A public-private partnership in Birmingham, Alabama is providing financial resources for residents to weatherproof their homes for severe storms. 

The “Protecting Good” program is helping qualified Alabama residents receive up to $25,000 worth of funding to help install storm-resistant roofs as well as repair damages that have already happened. This philanthropic effort is a public-private one that is in collaboration with the City of Birmingham, the Alabama Department of Insurance and Protective Life Corporation. 

In recent years, Birmingham has been rampaged by severe storms and hurricanes, so this program could not have come at a better time. One neighborhood president, Barbara Thomas told WBRC, “The community was in, and still is in need of revitalization, but the impact that this program has had on this community, I just can’t put in words. We had residents…it was literally raining in their homes.”  

All parties involved were excited to make their hometown of Birmingham lively again. President and CEO of Protective Life Corporation, Rich Bielen, told WBRC reporters, “We went on listening tours, met with a number of the city leaders, we listened to their problems, and honestly we knew we couldn’t solve them all, but if we could make a 1% improvement in the community and make their lives better, we wanted to make that difference.”  

The mayor of Birmingham, Randall Woodfin, was excited for the initiative as well, telling WBRC “this is what being a good neighbor is all about.” He continued, “If we only depend on tax dollars, there would be a long line and a long time before things get done, but when you have genuine private public partnerships and those in the private sector and corporate partners and corporate community stepping up like Protective Life, you can accelerate and get help to those most in need.” 

As of February 2023, 65 homes have had protective roofs installed and there are several more expected to be installed throughout the rest of the year. 

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