Media Release

ALACHUA COUNTY, FL - The Alachua County Growth Management Department is pleased to announce the availability of $611,600 in State Housing Initiatives Partnership (SHIP) State Fiscal Year 2015-2016 funds.

These funds are divided into the following programs:

• Down Payment Assistance - Effective October 26, 2015, Down Payment Assistance funding will be available to eligible first time homebuyers whose incomes do not exceed 80% of the area median income, adjusted for household size.  A maximum of $10,000 is available per eligible household.  Applications are accepted through any Alachua County SHIP certified lender. A PDF of the certified lenders list is available on-line, and at the Alachua County Growth Management Department (1st Floor, 10 SW 2nd Avenue, Gainesville).
• Rental Deposit Program - The Rental Deposit Program assists eligible households whose incomes do not exceed 50% of the area median income to pay rental security and utility deposits in Alachua County. A maximum of $1,700 is available per eligible household. Applications will be available on October 21, 2015, at the Alachua County Community Support Services Department (218 SE 24th Street, Gainesville).  To apply, contact Alachua County Social Services Coordinator Ranee SooHoo at 352-264-6721.
• Special Needs Program - Applications for funding are available beginning October 21, 2015, and are due by 1 p.m., on November 20, 2015, at the Alachua County Growth Management Department (1st Floor, 10 SW 2nd Avenue, Gainesville).  $50,000 is available on a reimbursement basis to not-for-profit agencies or quasi-governmental agencies to assist very low income households in Alachua County. Funding may be used for the construction or rehabilitation of temporary, transitional, or long-term rental housing, which address special housing needs as defined in 420.0004(13), F.S.
• Home Repair Program - Applications for funding are available beginning October 21, 2015, and are due by 1 p.m. on November 20, 2015 at the Alachua County Growth Management Department (1st Floor, 10 SW 2nd Avenue, Gainesville). $150,000 is available on a reimbursement basis to affordable housing providers to provide home repairs to very low, and low income households in Alachua County.

For more information visit the Alachua County Housing Programs website, or contact the Alachua County Housing Programs Office at 352-337-6284.

Alachua County is a fair housing/equal opportunity/disability access jurisdiction.