State Housing Initiatives Partnership (SHIP) Disaster Mitigation/Recovery Assistance

How it works

Jackson County participates in the Florida Housing Finance Corporation’s State Housing Initiatives Partnership Program (SHIP). The county says the Housing Assistance Office oversees the program, and that Apalachee Regional Planning Council manages individual assistance for Jackson County. The page says SHIP is used to meet the housing needs of very low-, low-, and moderate-income households and to preserve affordable housing.

What the money covers

For disaster mitigation/recovery, the county lists these eligible uses:

• Purchase of emergency supplies to weatherproof damaged homes
• Interim repairs to avoid further damage
• Tree and debris removal needed to make the housing unit habitable
• Construction of wells or repair of existing wells where public water is not available
• Payment of insurance deductibles for rehabilitation of homes covered under homeowners’ insurance policies
• Security deposits for eligible recipients displaced by a disaster
• Rental assistance for eligible recipients displaced by a disaster
• Other strategies included in the approved Local Housing Assistance Plan that benefit applicants directly affected by the declared disaster

Amounts and repayment

The county’s page says disaster mitigation assistance can be up to $30,000. It also says other SHIP housing rehabilitation assistance may be structured as a recorded zero-interest deferred-payment mortgage loan, with no monthly payments required. For those loan-based programs, repayment is due in full if the home is sold, title transfers, or the homeowner refinances to access equity and no longer resides in the home.

How to apply

The page directs applicants to apply through the Neighborly portal. It also says to contact the Housing Grants Coordinator / SHIP Program office for help or additional information. The county notes that application acceptance is based on funding availability.

Timing and deadlines

The page does not give a fixed application deadline. It frames the assistance as disaster-related aid for storm-damaged homes following a declared state of emergency.