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The State Housing Initiatives Partnership (SHIP) Program fosters public-private partnerships to create and preserve affordable
housing. Funds are channeled to counties and eligible municipalities on an entitlement basis and are earmarked for this
purpose by the William E. Sandowski Act.
SHIP funds, estimated at $193 million for fiscal year 2005-2006, are allocated by population with each county receiving at
least $350,000. All eligible local governments participated in SHIP during its first eight years. SHIP funds emergency repairs,
new construction, rehabilitation, down payment and closing cost assistance, impact fees, construction and gap financing,
mortgage buy-downs, acquisition of property for affordable housing, matching for federal housing grants and programs and
home ownership counseling.
At least 65 percent of each local government's SHIP funds must be used for home ownership and 75 percent must be used for
construction, rehabilitation, or emergency repairs. At least 30 percent of funds must be reserved for awards to very-low
income households. Another 30 percent of funds must be awarded to low-income households. Up to 10 percent of funds may be
used for administrative costs. Ship was designed to maximize local flexibility in the use of funds.
In exchange for flexibility, local governments demonstrate accountability through annual reporting.
Recipients
As noted above, the selection of households wishing to obtain assistance through the County's SHIP Program shall be on a first-come/first-served
basis for single-family activities. All possible efforts will be made to accommodate very-low and low-income families in
order to exceed the minimum percentages required. The selection and the expenditure of funds will be done in a manner, which
will insure that there will be no discrimination on the basis of race, creed, color, age, sex, familial status, handicap,
religion, martial status, or national origin.
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