Hurricane Housing Funding Available for Homeowners and Evacuees in Florida from Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands

TALLAHASSEE, FL – Florida Housing Finance Corporation (Florida Housing) is announcing the availability of funding from the State Housing Initiatives Partnership (SHIP) program for homeowners in need of repairs to their home due to the hurricane, and for evacuees in Florida from Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands who were impacted by Hurricanes Irma and Maria.

The SHIP program has $5 million for disaster recovery from the current 2017-18 fiscal year to allocate to local governments most affected by the 2017 hurricanes. Based on damage estimates provided to Florida Housing by FEMA, the SHIP disaster funds are being allocated to the 12 hardest hit counties and 27 entitlement cities within those 12 counties.  The funds will be used by these local governments to assist income qualified households that experienced damage from hurricanes as well as evacuees in Florida from Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands.

Governor Rick Scott said, “Hurricane Irma was the largest storm to hit our state in modern history and we have been fully committed to helping Floridians fully recover. We have also continued to welcome families who have relocated from Puerto Rico to Florida because of Hurricane Maria. The SHIP program will provide $5 million for ongoing disaster recovery to communities in need, and I appreciate the work of the Florida Housing Finance Corporation to make these important funds available. We will continue to do all we can to help all families impacted by these hurricanes recover and rebuild.”

“Florida Housing is following through on its commitment to provide long-term housing solutions in times of disaster,” said Trey Price, executive director for Florida Housing. “This funding will not only assist the citizens of Florida who were impacted by the hurricanes with their housing needs, but also our fellow Americans from Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands that had to evacuate to Florida.”

Florida Housing administers the SHIP program which provides funds to local governments as an incentive to create partnerships that produce and preserve affordable homeownership and multifamily housing. The program was designed to serve very low, low and moderate-income families. Depending on income, persons may be eligible for home repair or replacement, down payment assistance, rental housing assistance and other affordable housing assistance.

Attached is the list of the 12 hardest hit counties and 27 entitlement cities within those 12 counties that will be receiving funding.

For more information on Florida Housing, visit www.floridahousing.org.

Media Contact:
Taylore Maxey
850-488-4197
Taylore.Maxey@floridahousing.org