HIGHLANDS COUNTY SHIP PROGRAM
The Rapid Re-Housing/Rental Assistance Program is closed.
The Highlands County Housing Division receives funding from the State Housing Initiative Partnership Program (SHIP).
The SHIP Program is a State funded program with guidelines set by the State of Florida and Highlands County. Highlands County SHIP is designed to provide affordable housing assistance to qualified homebuyers, as well as to provide rehabilitation to substandard single-family owner-occupied units of extremely low, very low, low, or moderate income. Income verified and certified applicants may be eligible for down payment/closing cost assistance or home rehabilitation. The maximum purchase price or assessed value for Highlands County is $250,000 for an existing or newly constructed unit.
Applications will be received during the advertised application period for affordable housing assistance for eligible residents of Highlands County. Eligible candidates must qualify under specifically mandated State Criteria for “Anticipated Goss Household Income Limits Adjusted to Family Size” for Highlands County as established by The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) and distributed by the Florida Housing Finance Corporation for Highlands County in accordance with the specific guidelines for each housing strategy in the Highlands County Local Housing Assistance Plan (LHAP). Assistance for the following programs is provided as a loan at a zero percent (0%) interest, secured by a recorded mortgage and promissory note: Down Payment Assistance, Owner Occupied Rehabilitation, Emergency Repair, Foreclosure Prevention, and Rental Development. Disaster Assistance IS awarded as a grant.
APPLICANTS
The selection of households wishing to obtain assistance through the county’s SHIP Program shall be on a first-qualified, first-served basis for single-family activities.
All possible efforts will be made to accommodate very low- and low-income families in order to meet the minimum percentages required. The selection and the expenditure of funds will be done in a manner, which will ensure that there will be no discrimination based on race, creed, color, age, sex, familial status, handicap, religion, marital status, or national origin.
Applicants must not have more readily available funds than the funds being requested from the Highlands County Housing Office. These funds would be in a checking, savings, money market or CD type of account. Exception to this policy would be funds in an IRA or other restricted retirement accounts.
PURCHASE ASSISTANCE WITH AND WITHOUT REHABILITATION
Funds will be awarded for down payment and closing cost to households to purchase a newly constructed or existing home. A newly constructed home must have received a certificate of occupancy within the last twelve months. An existing home may also be purchased, and SHIP may pay for minor repairs along with the purchase assistance.
Eligibility
- First time homebuyers only (not having ownership interest in the past three (3) years).
- Income Categories to be served: Very Low, Low, Moderate and Work Force.
- Must have ability to secure a first mortgage financing: Conventional, FHA, VA, USDA are all acceptable; 30-year current interest fixed rate.
- Applicant must have a pre-qualification letter from the mortgage lender.
- Applicant must complete a homebuyer education course.
- Applicant must make a minimum cash contribution, based upon income bracket.
|
Ext Low – Very Low (50% or less of AMI) |
$500 |
| Low (80% of AMI) |
$1,000 |
| Moderate Income (120% of AMI) |
$1,200 |
| Work Force (120%-140% of AMI) |
$1,400 |
- Out of Pocket expenses paid before closing are considered as part of the applicant’s contribution (i.e., appraisal fees, inspections, earnest moneys).
Purchase Assistance Application
OWNER-OCCUPIED REHABILITATION
Funds will be awarded to households in need of repairs to correct code violations, health, and safety issues, electrical, plumbing, roofing systems (including soffit and fascia), windows, and other structural items. Additional items may be included on rehabilitation projects if funds are available after completing all required repairs listed above.
Eligibility
- Income Categories to be served: Extremely Low, Very Low and Low.
- The home must be the applicant’s primary residence and applied for Homestead Exemption.
- Applicant mortgage must be current.
- No property taxes or other County assessment may be in arrears.
- No repairs will be made if the cost of repairs exceeds 51% of the “total building value” from the Highlands County Property Appraiser website.
- If homeowner’s insurance is available, provide proof of policy and documentation if insurance will cover any part of the repair.
- No rental properties or mobile homes.
Owner-Occupied Rehabilitation Application
EMERGENCY REPAIR
Funds will be awarded to applicants in need of rehabilitation of their home related to a dire situation that needs to be mitigated immediately. This includes damaged windows causing exposure to the elements, air conditioning, septic, electrical or plumbing problems that could cause damage (fire) to the home or is an immediate health hazard to the occupants. This strategy will also be used for an applicant who has applied for but will not receive assistance through the owner-occupied rehabilitation strategy within the next three months. When an applicant is assisted with emergency repairs, they will not lose their place on the rehabilitation waiting list. However, the amount of funds expended for the emergency repairs will be counted towards the maximum award if the applicant receives subsequent assistance through the rehabilitation strategy. Funds may also be awarded to pay insurance deductibles for any emergency repairs covered by the homeowner’s policy.
Eligibility
- Income Categories to be served: Extremely Low, Very Low and Low.
- The home must be the applicant’s primary residence and applied for Homestead Exemption.
- Applicant mortgage must be current.
- No property taxes or other County assessment may be in arrears.
- If homeowner’s insurance is available, provide proof of policy and documentation if insurance will cover any part of the repair.
- No rental properties or mobile homes.
Click for List of Documents Needed
FORECLOSURE PREVENTION
Funds will be awarded to qualified homeowner that are in arrears on their first mortgage. The arrearage must be at least three months, but no more than six months and cannot be under an active foreclosure action.
Eligibility
The default must have been caused by circumstances beyond the control of the applicant that would constitute an emergency. Eligible reasons include loss of employment, sudden medical expenses, divorce, death in the family, or unforeseen home repair bill.
- Income Categories to be served: Extremely Low, Very Low, and Moderate.
- The home must be the applicant’s primary residence and applied for Homestead Exemption.
- No property taxes or other County assessments may be in arrears.
- Must provide evidence of the hardship that caused the nonpayment of mortgage.
- Must show ability to resume full mortgage payments to primary lender.
- Must be a lending institution as opposed to a private individual.
Foreclosure Prevention Application
DISASTER ASSISTANCE - HURRICANES IAN AND NICOLE
The Disaster Strategy aids households in the aftermath of a disaster as declared by the President of the United States or Governor of the State of Florida. This strategy will only be funded and implemented in the event of a disaster using any funds that have not yet been encumbered or with additional disaster funds allocated by Florida Housing Finance Corporation SHIP Disaster Funds may be used for items such as, but not limited to:
- Immediate threats to health and life safety (sewage, damaged windows, roofing) in cases where the home is still habitable.
- Imminent residual damage to the home (such as damage caused by a leaking roof) in cases where the home is still habitable.
- Repairs necessary to make the home habitable.
- Repairs to mitigate dangerous situations (exposed wires).
- Payment of insurance deductibles for rehabilitation of homes covered under homeowners’ insurance policies.
- Purchase of emergency supplies for eligible households to weatherproof damage homes.
- Interim repairs to avoid further damage: tree and debris removal required to make the individual housing unit habitable.
Disaster Assistance - Hurricanes Ian & Nicole Application
RENTAL DEVELOPMENT
Funds will be awarded to developers of affordable rental units that are awarded construction financing through other state or federal housing programs to construct or rehabilitate affordable rental units. This funding is intended to be used as gap financing required for the project.
Eligibility
Developers will apply to the county through an RFQ process that is open year-round. The RFQ will require proof of developer experience in providing affordable rent housing, proof of financial capacity, evidence of site control (or purchase contract), proof of ability to proceed once all funding is closed, and a housing unit design plan that meets with the county’s housing element in the Comprehensive Plan.
The County reserves the right to select development that meet all of the above requirements and:
- Are in areas of immediate need due to lack of available units.
- Propose to preserve and improve existing units.
To apply, please contact the Housing office at 863-402-6648.
Developers will be required to meet compliance reporting requirements on the development necessary to meet the statutory requirements for monitoring of SHIP rental units.