Notice of Funding Availability (NOFA) - State Housing Initiative Partnership (SHIP) for FY 2026-2027

Purchase Assistance – Gap financing, down payment, and closing cost assistance to eligible households to purchase a newly constructed or existing single-family home, townhome or condominium. Manufactured and mobile homes are not eligible.

 

Owner-Occupied Rehabilitation – Assistance to eligible homeowners with renovations necessary to preserve and maintain their home and/or assist physically disabled households with modifications that would remove barriers and make housing accessible.

  

Acquisition/Rehabilitation/New Construction (Homeownership) – Loans to eligible Sponsors/Developers of affordable homeownership housing for construction financing. Eligible costs include property acquisition, demolition, site improvements, rehabilitation and new construction. Houses rehabilitated or constructed will be sold to SHIP income eligible buyers. 

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Rental Development – Loans to eligible Sponsors/Developers of affordable rental units that are awarded construction financing through other state or federal housing programs to construct affordable rental units. This funding is intended to be used as gap financing required for the project. 

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Disaster Assistance – Assistance provided to eligible homeowners and renters following a disaster as declared by Executive Order. This strategy will only be implemented in the event of a disaster using any funds that have not yet been encumbered or additional disaster funds issued by Florida Housing Finance Corporation.  

 

Applications for SHIP funding for Purchase Assistance and Owner-Occupied Rehabilitation activities will open on Sept. 1, 2026. Applications for SHIP funding for rental development activities will open tentatively in Jan. 2027.   

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Sarasota County will be accepting applications for SHIP Purchase Assistance and Owner-Occupied Rehabilitation on an ongoing basis. Applications for State Fiscal Year 2026-2027 funded activities will be accepted between Sept. 1, 2026, through June 30, 2029, or until all available funds are spent. Additional program information, application link and the County’s Local Housing Assistance Plan are available on Sarasota County’s HERO website. 

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Applications that meet eligibility requirements will be accepted on a first-qualified, first-served basis. Special priority will be given to persons with special needs. Persons with special needs are defined in Florida State Statute 420.0004(13). Funding awards are subject to program parameters and funding disbursements by the Florida Housing Finance Corporation. Technical assistance will be provided as needed to guide participants through the application process.  

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To better serve residents interested in our SHIP-funded Purchase Assistance and Owner-Occupied Rehabilitation Assistance programs, our staff will be available for application assistance and to answer any SHIP-related questions at the below locations and dates: 

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Frances T. Bourne Jacaranda Library - 4143 Woodmere Park Blvd, Venice, FL 34293 

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Thursday, Sept. 10, 2026 - 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Thursday, Sept. 24, 2026 - 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Thursday, Oct. 8, 2026 - 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

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Betty J. Johnson North Sarasota Library - 2801 Newtown Blvd, Sarasota, FL 34234 

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Tuesday, Sept. 15, 2026 - 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Tuesday, Sept. 29, 2026 - 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Tuesday, Oct. 13, 2026 - 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

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Please visit our website www.herosrq.net regularly for updates on these outreach locations and other important program information. 

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Questions regarding this NOFA or the Sarasota County SHIP program may be directed to SHIP@scgov.net or Megan Lucia, Case Manager, at 941-861-5336. For information about the City of Sarasota’s SHIP program visit the Office of Housing and Community Development on www.sarasotafl.gov.  

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All SHIP funds will be expended in a manner which will ensure that there will be no discrimination on the basis of race, creed, religion, color, age, sex, marital status, familial status, national origin or handicap.