Polk County State Housing Initiatives Partnership (SHIP) – Owner Occupied Rehabilitation / Minor Repairs / Major Repair / Disaster Repair-Mitigation

How it works

Polk County’s Housing and Neighborhood Development Division administers the county’s Local Housing Assistance Plan (LHAP) using State Housing Initiatives Partnership (SHIP) funds. The county says SHIP money is used for several homeowner strategies, including owner-occupied rehabilitation, emergency repair, demolition/reconstruction, and disaster repair/mitigation. The plan states that these funds are fully funded by grant awards and do not use General Fund dollars.

What the money covers

The county’s program description says emergency repairs can include installation of new roofs, repairing and replacing septic tanks, and ADA accommodations. The ordinances and public notices also describe minor repairs as one-time help with roofs, septic systems or sewer, wells or water systems, and removal of architectural barriers for disabled households. Homes needing more extensive work may receive substantial rehabilitation or replacement, depending on the program path.

Amounts and matching

The county’s official materials do not give one single dollar cap that applies to every SHIP homeowner repair case in the same way. Instead, the amount depends on the strategy and the condition of the home. One county ordinance says repairs costing up to $6,500 are not required to meet Polk County Housing Rehabilitation Standards, and substantial rehabilitation applies to repairs exceeding $6,500 but no greater than $35,500. The same ordinance says a grant of up to $5,500 may be provided for temporary relocation expenses if needed.

Disaster repair / mitigation

Polk County’s LHAP includes a disaster repair/mitigation strategy, and its public notice says SHIP disaster assistance can help households after a disaster declared by the President or the Governor. The county’s 2024–2025 plan says disaster repair/mitigation is one of the program’s housing strategies, but the public notice showed zero budgeted SHIP dollars for that line in that cycle.

How to apply

The county’s public notice says applications were accepted from July 1, 2022 through June 30, 2025 or until funds were expended. For current application status, the homeowner should contact Polk County Housing and Neighborhood Development.

Timing and deadlines

The LHAP shown on the county site has an effective date of July 1, 2023, and the public notice states the SHIP allocation period ran through June 30, 2025 or until funds were exhausted.