Manatee County Accepting Applications For Low-Income, Special Needs Housing Repair Program

MANATEE COUNTY, FL — Starting Monday, the Manatee County SHIP Housing Rehabilitation/Replacement Program began accepting applications for low-income and very low-income special needs homeowners to receive housing repair or replacement funding.

Through Nov. 29, online applications will be available to low and very low-income special needs homeowners for 0 percent interest 30-year loans with deferred payments to make code-related repairs or replace unsound and deteriorated structures for single-family homes, the county said in a news release.

The program’s emphasis is on home modifications, including technological enhancements and devices, allowing homeowners to remain independent in their homes and maintain their homeownership. In addition, single-family housing conditions can be corrected and modified to improve the health, safety and welfare of the residents, the county said.

To be eligible, households must be in unincorporated Manatee County or the city of Palmetto and meet additional program requirements. The total assessed value of the home by the county’s property appraiser can’t exceed $180,000 for very low-income homeowner applications and $200,000 for low-income homeowner applications.

To qualify, the total gross household income cannot exceed the maximum income levels based on the household size for the SHIP Program:

• one-person household: maximum $27,050 for very low income applicants, $43,250 for low income
• two-person household: maximum $30,900 for very low income applicants, $49,400 for low income
• three-person household: maximum $34,750 for very low income applicants, $55,600 for low income
• four-person household: maximum $38,600 for very low income applicants, $61,750 for low income
• five-person household: maximum $41,700 for very low income applicants, $66,700 for low income
• six-person household: maximum $44,800 for very low income applicants, $71,650 for low income
• seven-person household: maximum $47,900 for very low income applicants, $76,600 for low income
• eight-person household: maximum $51,000 for very low income applicants, $81,550 for low income

Those who have received county assistance in the past five years are unable to participate in the SHIP program during this application period. Learn more about how to qualify here.

The deadline to apply for the SHIP Housing Rehabilitation/Replacement Program is Nov. 29 at 5 p.m. Once all applications are submitted, qualified applicants will be entered into a random drawing for selection in the application review process. Applications will be reviewed, and funding will be awarded in December to households meeting the eligibility requirements until all funds have been committed, the county said.

Applications are available online here. Contact the Manatee County Redevelopment and Economic Opportunity Department at 941-749-3029 for assistance.