Suwannee County SHIP Housing – Housing Rehabilitation/Emergency Repair

How it works

Suwannee County uses State Housing Initiatives Partnership (SHIP) funds for several housing assistance strategies. One of the listed strategies is housing rehabilitation/emergency repair for substandard, homeowner-occupied housing. The county says the work should substantially rehabilitate the home and extend the economic life of the house by five to ten years.

What the money covers

Eligible rehabilitation work includes, but is not limited to:

• roof repair or replacement;
• interior wall repair or replacement;
• load-bearing or exterior wall repair or replacement;
• damaged or sagging floor and ceiling repair or replacement;
• wiring and wiring system repair or replacement;
• plumbing repair or replacement;
• repair of faulty steps and porches;
• heating, hot water heater, electrical, and sanitation repairs or installation;
• bathroom and kitchen repair or construction;
• septic tank installation and/or hookup to city water and sewer;
• interior and/or exterior painting when done with other eligible activities;
• floor coverings or carpeting;
• termite and vermin inspection and fumigation;
• appliances such as a stove and/or refrigerator only when existing units cannot be reused;
• wall and ceiling insulation and other weatherization activities;
• heating and/or air conditioning repair, replacement, or installation as needed.

For the emergency repair strategy, SHIP funds are used to address health and safety concerns for very-low, low, and moderate-income owner-occupied homes. Examples listed on the page include:

• a leaky roof;
• septic tank repairs, replacement, or furnishing;
• replacing electrical wiring that is a fire hazard;
• plumbing or water damage caused by leaky plumbing;
• heating and/or cooling assistance.

The disaster mitigation/recovery strategy says SHIP funds will be used after a federal, state, or locally declared disaster declared by Executive Order to provide emergency repairs, interim repairs to avoid further damage, tree and debris removal needed to make the home inhabitable, and post-disaster non-insured repairs.

Amounts and matching

The page states the maximum per-unit cost of rehabilitation is $25,000.

For homebuyer assistance, the page separately says existing units may have $2,000 held in escrow by the closing agent for minor rehabilitation before move-in, and that assistance is tailored so the buyer receives only the minimum needed to complete the purchase. Those purchase-assistance details are part of the same SHIP Housing page, but the rehabilitation/emergency repair strategy itself is the homeowner hardening program described here.

How to apply

The page does not provide a full step-by-step application process. It indicates that applicants go through the SHIP Housing program and, for homebuyer purchase assistance, must provide pre-approval documents from a SHIP-verified lender before verification begins.

Timing and deadlines

The disaster mitigation/recovery strategy is optional and is implemented only if a declared natural disaster directly impacts Suwannee County. The page does not list a separate application deadline for rehabilitation or emergency repair assistance.