Homes available for assistance include single-family, condominiums and townhomes that are located within Hernando County. Purchase price may not exceed 90% of the average area purchase price.
State Housing Initiative Program
About State Housing Initiatives Program (SHIP)
The State Housing Initiatives Program (SHIP) offer a variety of housing assistance programs designed to support eligible residents with affordable housing needs. These programs may help with home purchase, rehabilitation, rental assistance, and other housing-related services.
Use the links below to jump to the different SHIP-funded programs and find information that best fits your situation:
Purchase Assistance/Down Payment Assistance (PA/DPA)
About the Program
The Purchase Assistance program provides first-time homebuyers that are at or below 120% of the Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater Metropolitan Statistical Area with an interest fee deferred forgivable loan that may be applied towards, down payment, closing, costs, and principal reduction for eligible housing.
Eligible housing can be existing, new construction, or housing that needs rehabilitation. Hernando County is partnering with Hernando County Housing Authority to administer this strategy, but applications will be available online and at the Housing and Supportive Services Department located at 621 W. Jefferson Street, Brooksville, FL 34601.
PA/DPA Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Which properties are eligible for assistance?
Which properties are NOT available for assistance?
Mobile or manufactured homes; property located within a special flood hazard area or repetitive loss area; property that has experienced a sinkhole or other ground settlement activity, including remediated or stabilized properties.
What is the definition of a First-Time Homebuyer?
An individual who has had no ownership in a principal residence during the 3-year period ending on the date of purchase of the property.
What dollar amount can be provided for assistance?
The maximum award if $50,000 and is determined by a percentage of the purchase price of the home, income level and if there will be rehab required to bring the home up to the current building code.
The amount of DPA provided to a homebuyer will be secured by a second mortgage and note on the property. The note is forgiven at the end of the term as long as the loan is not in default.
What would constitute a default on the loan?
Loans are considered in default and repayable if the home is sold, transferred, foreclosed upon, or ceases to be the recipient's primary residence.
The Hernando County Housing Authority accepts applications from applicants with a pre-approval from a reputable mortgage lender/financial institution. Add Address and Contact Phone Number?
Owner-Occupied Rehab Program
About the Program
The Owner-Occupied Rehab Program is managed by Hernando County Housing and Supportive Services Department. The program objective is to improve the living conditions of income qualified homeowners by removing health and safety hazards and by correcting code violations, provide effective energy conserving features and make handicap accessibility improvements.
The program provides funding in the form of a forgivable loan to assist income qualified property owners. The loan is forgiven if the home remains owner-occupied but will be required to be paid back if the home is sold, title is transferred, foreclosed upon, or ceases to be the recipient's primary residence.
Application can be accessed online (link above) and at the Housing and Supportive Services Department located at 621 W. Jefferson Street, Brooksville, FL 34601
Owner-Occupied Rehab Program Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Homeowners that do not exceed the income limits, the home must be the primary residence and homesteaded, property taxes and mortgage must be current.
Single-family homes, townhomes, condominium unit and duplexes. Mobile and manufactured homes are not eligible at this time. Home value cannot exceed 90% of the current average area purchase price after improvements have been made.
Do I have to pay these funds back?
The loan is considered in default and payable if the home is sold, transferred, foreclosed upon, or ceases to be the recipient's primary residence. If the homeowner dies during the loan term, the loan may be assumed by a SHIP eligible heir who will occupy the home as a primary residence.
Applications are available online and at the Housing and Supportive Services Department located at 621 W. Jefferson Street, Brooksville, FL 34601.
Hurricane Idalia Housing Repair Program
About the Program
Hurricane Idalia Disaster Recovery Funding is now available for income eligible owner-occupied residences for those citizens that have suffered loss or damage of their primary residence due to the storm.
Funds will be used to reimburse homeowners payments of insurance deductibles covered under homeowners' insurance policies and to assist with unmet home repair needs including roof replacements/repair.
State Application will be available online and at the Housing and Supportive Services Department located at 621 W. Jefferson Street, Brooksville, FL 34601
Hurricane Idalia Housing Repair Program Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Income Qualified residents with loss or damage of their primary residence due to the impact of Hurricane Idalia.
Home Repairs or the Reimbursement of Homeowners Insurance or Flood Insurance deductibles.
Septic-to-Sewer Program
About the Program
The Hernando County State Housing Initiatives Partnership Program will assist residents that are required to participate in the Septic to Sewer Conversion Project program with the costs to connect your home to the sanitary sewer system.
Emergency Repair Program
About the Program
Emergency Repair program will provide assistance to income eligible homeowners to make emergency repairs to remove health and safety hazards and correct code violations. Repairs that may be provided are roof replacements, septic tank repairs, HVAC replacement, electrical hazards, removal of hazards.
Applications are available online and at the Housing and Supportive Services Department located at 621 W. Jefferson Street, Brooksville, FL 34601.
Disaster Assistance Program
About the Program
The Disaster Strategy provides assistance to households following a disaster as declared by Executive Order of the President of the United States or the Governor of the State of Florida. 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.
SHIP disaster funds may be used for items such as, but not limited to:
-
- Purchase of emergency supplies for eligible households to weatherproof damaged homes.
- Interim repairs to avoid further damage; tree and debris removal required to make the individual housing unit habitable.
- Construction of wells or repair of existing wells where public water is not available.
- Payment of insurance deductibles for rehabilitation of homes covered under homeowner’s insurance policies.
- Temporary rental assistance for renter household that have experienced a temporary financial hardship that results in missed rental payments and in danger of being evicted.
- A self-certification streamlined verification of income, assets, etc. may be use in determining household eligibility.
Other Important Links
Income Limit by Number of Persons in Household (2024)
|
Income Level |
Percent of AMI |
Number of Persons in Household |
|||||||
|
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
5 |
6 |
7 |
8 |
||
|
Extremely Low Income |
30 % |
$21,950 |
$25,050 |
$28,200 |
$32,150 |
$37,650 |
$43,150 |
$48,650 |
$54,150 |
|
Very Low Income |
50% |
$36,500 |
$41,700 |
$46,950 |
$52,150 |
$56,350 |
$60,500 |
$64,700 |
$68,850 |
|
Low Income |
80% |
$58,450 |
$66,800 |
$75,150 |
$83,450 |
$90,150 |
$96,850 |
$103,500 |
$110,200 |
|
Moderate Income |
120% |
$87,600 |
$100,080 |
$112,680 |
$125,160 |
$135,240 |
$145,200 |
$155,280 |
$165,240 |
Contact Us
Hernando County Government Main Line
(352) 754-4000
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