Programs For Everyone...

The William E. Sadowski Affordable Housing Act was signed into law on July 7, 1992 and, subsequently, incorporated into Chapter 420 of the Florida Statutes. This legislation established a dedicated revenue source for affordable housing, benefiting very low, low, and moderate income persons. Local governments receive an annual allocation through the State Housing Initiatives Partnership (SHIP) Program.

Palm Beach County created the Commission on Affordable Housing to implement and develop programs to increase the availability of single family and multi family housing opportunities.

For homeowners, the SHIP Program provides the following financial assistance:

Utility Connection/Impact Fee Program- This program provides up to $10,000 to finance the service initiation and connection fees for new water and/or sewer service and impact fees on the primary residence of eligible applicants.

Purchase Assistance Program- Financial assistance is provided to eligible applicants for the purchase of their first home. The financing may be used as gap financing to buy down the purchase price on a new or existing single family home. The purchase price may include funding for the rehabilitation of an existing property. The amount of assistance depends on the household size and total household income of the applicant. Very low income households can receive up to $75,000, low income households can receive up to $60,000 and moderate income households can receive up to $45,000. Permanent first mortgage financing is required through a private sector financing institution.

Foreclosure Assistance Program - This program provides financial assistance to very low- and low-income homeowners facing foreclosure due to an unexpected loss of household income. The goal of this program is to avoid foreclosure by paying up to six (6) months delinquent mortgage payments (PITI) or $7,500 to assist with bringing the mortgage current.  The property must be the primary residence of the homeowner. 

 Single Family Rehabilitation Program -  This program provides home repair assistance to eligible very low- and low-income homeowners to correct code violations and stop additional deteriorations.  Mobile homes are excluded from the program.  If the maximum award combined with other public and/or private dollars is insufficient to bring a home up to the County's building code standards, the homeowner's application is declined under this program.

 Replacement Housing Program - This program provides partial financing for the construction or purchase of a new home, to eligible very low and low income elderly, and special needs persons residing in substandard housing.  The program strives to preserve Palm Beach County's existing affordable housing stock to make it accessible to lower income households in Palm Beach County. 

 Special Needs/Barrier - Free Housing Program - This program provides assistance to very low and low income eligible elderly (62 years or older) and special needs homeowners for housing modifications to address health, safety and barrier problems.  Assistance is also available to qualified sponsors of rental housing serving very low and low income elderly and special needs households.

Single Family Developmental Assistance Program- This program provides assistance to eligible developers of single family developments serving very-low, low and moderate income households with the goal of increasing the number of affordable owner housing unit available to income eligible residents.  This is achieved through a reduction in the purchase price charged by the builder/developer, equivalent to the amount of SHIP funds given.

Multifamily Competitive Rental Development Program- Provides assistance to eligible developers of rental housing serving every low and low income households.  The goal of this program is to increase the number of affordable rental housing units in Palm Beach County.  All SHIP assisted units must be occupied by income eligible families.