Human Services Department
Housing Services - State Housing Initiatives Partnership (SHIP)
Homeowners Initiatives
Rental Initiatives
Homeless Initiatives
The SHIP Program provides Charlotte County with State funds to expand or preserve affordable housing to income eligible households and other special needs groups. The Division is responsible for coordinating the development of a Local Housing Assistance Plan (Plan) describing how funds from the SHIP Program will be used within the framework established by the Florida Legislature. State rules require the Plan be reviewed by the Affordable Housing Advisory Committee and endorsed by the Charlotte County Board of County Commissioners before being submitted for approval by the Florida Housing Finance Corporation. View the current Local Housing Assistance Plan
Eligibility for programs is based on household income as determined by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development each year. For 2008, income limits are listed on the following table. Extremely-low-income households are those with incomes below 30 percent of the Area Median Income (AMI). Very-low incomes are those at or below 50 percent of AMI. Low-incomes are between 51 and 80 percent of AMI. Moderate incomes are between 81 and 120 percent of AMI.
Income Limits for 2009 |
|||||||
|
30% |
40% |
50% |
60% |
80% |
100% |
120% |
1 Person |
11,400 |
15,200 |
19,050 |
22,850 |
30,450 |
38,100 |
45,700 |
2 Person |
13,050 |
17,400 |
21,750 |
26,100 |
34,800 |
43,500 |
52,200 |
3 Person |
14,650 |
19,600 |
24,500 |
29,400 |
39,150 |
49,000 |
58,800 |
4 Person |
16,300 |
21,750 |
27,200 |
32,600 |
43,500 |
54,400 |
65,250 |
5 Person |
17,600 |
23,500 |
29,400 |
35,250 |
47,000 |
58,800 |
70,550 |
6 Person |
18,900 |
25,200 |
31,550 |
37,850 |
50,450 |
63,100 |
75,700 |
Homeowners Initiatives
The County partners with The Housing Corporation to provide homeowner assistance through the SHIP program in Charlotte County. The Housing Corporation can be reached at 941.255.9454 for more information about these programs.
- Down Payment Assistance: Provides deferred payment loans to assist very-low, low and moderate income households with the purchase of homes.
- Homeowner Rehabilitation: Provides deferred payment loans to assist in the rehabilitation of housing owned by low income households.
- Housing Construction: Assists nonprofit organizations in the construction of homes to be sold to very-low and low income households. Current partners include The Housing Corporation and Habitat for Humanity. They currently have plans to build or rehabilitate 30 new homes over the next year, primarily within a designated revitalization area in Port Charlotte.
- Homebuyers Program (Credit Repair and Budgeting): Offers homeownership counseling to assist potential buyers to position themselves to become homeowners by helping participants repair their credit and create workable budgets. This program is also available to renters who are in need of credit repair and budgeting assistance even if they are not preparing for homeownership. There is no charge for Charlotte County residents with very low, low, and moderate incomes.
- Foreclosure Prevention: Assists very low, low, and moderate-income households retain homeownership using foreclosure counseling from a credit counselor certified by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD).
- Community Land Trust: Provides homeownership using a 99 year ground lease. The lease provides homestead rights to the homebuyer but places limitations on the resale of the home to ensure affordability to eligible subsequent households. Homes are currently available for eligible households at or below 100 percent of Area Median Income (AMI). All homes in the program are different in size, location and amenities offered. However, most homes are a three-bedroom, two-bath unit with a garage.
- Lease-Purchase Homes: The Housing Corporation has created a program to help ease renters into homeownership with a lease-purchase program. This allows households to move into a home and pay rent at the same price of their projected low-cost mortgage payment. While they are renting, the households will work to pay off debts, clean up their credit, and prepare for the responsibility of homeownership.
Rental Initiatives
The county provides gap financing to public housing authorities, non-profit agencies, and for-profit developers interested in building affordable housing in the County.
If you are interested in learning more about public housing, please contact:
Punta Gorda Housing Authority
414 E. Charlotte Avenue
Punta Gorda, FL 33950
Phone: 941.639.4344
Fax: 941.639.1753
The Housing Authority also oversees the Housing Choice Voucher Program (formerly known as Section 8) in the County. Please contact them for more information about this program as well at 639.4344.
Printable list of the county's affordable housing properties (including those not funded by the County’s SHIP program)
Additional information about affordable housing opportunities in the area can also be found at www.floridahousingsearch.org.
Homeless Initiatives
Charlotte County has provided funding to the Homeless Coalition to assist in the development of several transitional housing units in the county.
- Genesis Bishop House is a home for pregnant women age 16 and over. It is temporarily closed.
- Genesis Chara House is a transitional housing facility for single mothers with young children up to four years of age. Pregnant women are also being housed at this facility. It is temporarily closed
- Genesis Safe House is an emergency shelter for women, men, and families.
In addition, the Homeless Coalition has four single-family rental homes available for families in need of transitional housing and case management.
For information on any of these programs, contact the Homeless Coalition at 941.627.4313. The Homeless Coalition also operates homeless prevention programs, including one-time rental assistance.
Coastal Safe Haven: Charlotte County has also provided funding for the renovation of the former Kelly Hall dormitory in Punta Gorda to a 52-bed rehabilitation facility for homeless persons with special needs. This project will be operated by Coastal Behavioral Healthcare. The project is scheduled to open in April 2009. This facility is currently closed.
Still Water Home: Still Water Home received funding from the county to open a shelter for unaccompanied teenagers. The property will be located on Stillwater Street. It is scheduled to open in spring 2010.
