State Housing Initiatives Partnership (SHIP)

How it works

St. Johns County’s SHIP program is the county’s implementation of Florida’s State Housing Initiatives Partnership program. The page says SHIP is authorized under Chapter 420, Part VII, Florida Statutes and Rule Chapter 67-37, Florida Administrative Code. Its purpose is to provide funds to local governments as an incentive to create partnerships that produce and preserve affordable homeownership and multifamily housing.

Funding is established by the 1992 Sadowski Affordable Housing Act and is allocated by a population-based formula. The page says the minimum allocation is $350,000 and the largest allocation is a little over $9 million. SHIP funds are distributed to all 67 counties and 51 Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) entitlement cities.

What the money covers

The page lists several local housing strategies that can be funded with SHIP money, including:

• Down payment assistance
• Purchase assistance
• Housing rehabilitation / repair
• Foreclosure intervention
• New construction
• Disaster Mitigation/Recovery
• Unit production

The page does not provide a line-item description of what specific disaster mitigation/recovery repairs are covered, nor does it identify a separate wildfire, hurricane, or flood hardening menu. It does make clear that disaster mitigation/recovery is one of the eligible strategies under the local program.

Amounts and matching

The page does not state a homeowner award amount for disaster mitigation/recovery. It does state statewide targeting and funding rules:

• At least 65% of funds must be spent on eligible homeownership activities.
• At least 75% of funds must be spent on eligible construction activities.
• At least 30% of funds must be reserved for very-low-income households (up to 50% of median income).
• An additional 30% may be reserved for low-income households (up to 80% of median income).
• Up to 40% of the remaining funds may be reserved for moderate-income households (up to 120% of median income).
• At least 20% of the funds must be reserved for households with special needs.
• No more than 10% of SHIP funds may be used for administrative expenses.

The page also says local governments provide assistance as grants, deferred payment loans, or direct loans, and that local terms are established for owner-occupied housing. It does not give a match requirement.

How to apply

The page is informational and gives contact information for the county Housing and Community Development office, but it does not provide a step-by-step homeowner application process on the page reviewed.

Timing and deadlines

The page links to the 2026-2029 Local Housing Assistance Plan (LHAP) and the 2023-2026 LHAP Technical Revision 04/07/2025. It does not state a separate application deadline for disaster mitigation/recovery on the page reviewed.

Important notes

The page says SHIP funds may not be used to assist mobile homes or manufactured housing; however, manufactured buildings with the Department of Community Affairs insignia are permitted. For owner-occupied assistance, local governments must provide for recapture of funds if the household ceases to occupy the unit.