State Housing Initiatives Partnership Program (SHIP)

The State Housing Initiatives Partnership (SHIP) Program was created in 1992 as part of the Sadowski Act. This program provides funds to all 67 counties and 55 entitlement cities on a population-based formula as an incentive to produce and preserve affordable housing for very low, low and moderate income families. The minimum allocation for most counties is $350,000 per county, and at least 65% of funds must be used for homeownership. Under their Local Government Housing Assistance Plans, counties and eligible cities may fund such strategies as emergency repairs, new construction, rehabilitation, down payment and closing cost assistance, impact fees, property acquisition, matching dollars for federal programs and homeownership counseling. Annual appropriation language may more specifically direct program uses.