NASSAU COUNTY has an allocation of approximately $300,000 in affordable housing dollars available through the State Housing Initiatives Partnership (SHIP) Program.
 
PROGRAMS FUNDED FOR THE 2022-2023 FUNDING PERIOD include:

• Purchase Assistance with or without Rehabilitation Loan for buyers who do not currently own a home. Repair costs cannot exceed $5,000. 
• Purchase Assistance Loan for the purchase of new or existing manufactured home/land packages that are less then 20 years old.  Maximum award $25,000.  

 
Eligible applicants can only receive assistance through the SHIP Program once in a 10-year period.
                                             
Applications will be available Friday, July 28, 2023, starting at 9 a.m. Applications will not be accepted after funds are exhausted.  Applications will be processed “first come, first qualified, first eligible” with a priority given to Special Needs and Essential Service Personnel defined as teachers, police and fire personnel, health care personnel and skilled building trades personnel.
 
A pre-qualification letter from your primary mortgage lender is required for submission of your application.
 
Assistance Limits for Manufactured Home Purchases: Assistance limits are $25,000 with a maximum purchase price of 90% of the Median Home Sold Price for the last 12 months not to exceed $359,263.80 for applicants meeting the income limits. Funds may be used for closing costs, first mortgage down payment or a combination of both. The buyer must occupy the home for ten (10) years for the SHIP loan to be satisfied. A pre-qualification letter from your primary mortgage lender is required for submission of your application. Only new and existing manufactured land/home packages less than 20 years old are eligible for assistance.
 
THE NASSAU COUNTY Grants Specialist administers the local SHIP program. Applications will be available on Friday, July 28th, 2023, at 9 a.m. and can be picked up at the address below. Individuals interested in participating in the SHIP program are encouraged to visit our website at www.nassaucountyfl.com and under DEPARTMENTS click on Office of Management and Budget then SHIP. It will provide the 2023 Income Limits and Purchase Assistance Guidelines for application or call Carol Gilchrist, Office of Management and Budget, 96135 Nassau Place, Suite 2, Yulee, FL 32097, (904) 530-6020, cgilchrist@nassaucountyfl.com.
 
FAIR HOUSING / EQUAL HOUSING OPPORTUNITY
 
It is illegal to discriminate based on race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, or familial status when renting, selling, or financing a home or property.
 
You Have Rights!!  If you feel you have been discriminated against when buying or renting a home, please contact Nassau County SHIP office at (904) 530-6020. 
 
Nassau County is a Fair Housing Advocate as explained in the County’s Fair Housing Ordinance which outlines steps that can be taken locally to report housing discrimination. A copy of Nassau County’s Ordinance may be obtained on our website at http://www.nassaucountyfl.com or by phone or written request.

4/26/23 @ 10:25 a.m. - Oops! We just realized that our Day 24 post for National Government Month was shared on our social media page but we forgot to include it here as well. You can find it below.

The National Association of Counties (NACo) has proclaimed April as National County Government Month. Each day this month, we will provide different facts about Nassau County, including information about its history, services provided and more.

STATE HOUSING INITIATIVES PARTNERSHIP (SHIP) PROGRAM
The SHIP Program was established by the passage of the 1992 William E. Sadowski Affordable Housing Act and provides funding to local governments to produce and preserve affordable home ownership. In order to participate, counties must establish a local housing assistance program by Ordinance and develop a local housing assistance plan and housing incentive strategy. Funds are then allocated to local governments on a population based-formula. The funds are used for emergency repairs, new construction, rehabilitation, and down payment and closing cost assistance for very-low, low and moderate income families who meet all the requirements listed in Florida Statutes, Chapter 420.907, Florida Administrative Code 67-37, and Nassau County's Local Housing Assistance Plan.

Below is a link to a article published by the Florida Housing Coalition about a Nassau County resident who was awarded SHIP funds to make her home more accessible with her wheelchair.

Here' a link to a article published by the Florida Housing Coalition about a Nassau County resident who was awarded SHIP funds to make her home more accessible with her wheelchair.

-Sabrina Robertson 
​ Public Information Officer

1/20/23 @ 10:30 a.m. 

​NASSAU COUNTY has an allocation of approximately $300,000 in affordable housing dollars available through the State Housing Initiatives Partnership (SHIP) Program.
 
ELIGIBLE APPLICANTS
Twenty percent (20%) of the 2022-23 SHIP funding has been designated to serve persons with Special Needs as defined in F.S. 420.004 (13)  “Persons with special needs” means an adult person requiring independent living services in order to maintain housing or develop independent living skills and who has a disabling condition; a young adult formerly in foster care who is eligible for services under F.S.. 409.1451(5); a survivor of domestic violence as defined in F.S. 741.28; or a person receiving benefits under the Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) program or the Supplemental Security Income (SSI) program or from veterans’ disability benefits to meet set aside requirements. A child receiving SSDI qualifies the household for assistance.
 
PROGRAMS FUNDED FOR THE 2022-2023 FUNDING PERIOD include:

• Emergency Repairs Grant for minor repairs to owner occupied housing such as but not limited to roof repairs/replacements, wheelchair ramps, septic tank repairs/replacements, and heating/air conditional repairs/replacements. Repair costs cannot exceed $10,000.
• Purchase Assistance with or without Rehabilitation Loan for buyers who do not currently own a home. Repair costs cannot exceed $5,000. 
• Purchase Assistance Loan for the purchase of new or existing manufactured home/land packages that are less then 20 years old.  Maximum award $25,000.  

 
Eligible applicants can only receive assistance through the SHIP Program once in a 10-year period.
                                             
Applications will be available Friday, February 24, 2023, starting at 9 a.m. Applications will not be accepted after funds are exhausted.  Applications will be processed “first come, first qualified, first eligible” with a priority given to Special Needs and Essential Service Personnel defined as teachers, police and fire personnel, health care personnel and skilled building trades personnel.
 
Assistance Limits for Emergency Repairs: Eligible applicants must qualify under very low- or low-income limits. The maximum award for emergency repairs is $10,000. Repairs will include minor work necessary to provide general renovation of the housing stock to correct code violations. No application will be accepted for SHIP clients who have received SHIP funds within the previous ten years.
 
Assistance Limits for Home Purchases: Currently assistance limits are 20%, 25% and 30% of the sales price of a home and the amount of funding is dependent on the income level of the applicant’s household. The maximum deferred loan is $102,747 and the maximum price of a home for SHIP eligibility is 90% of the Median Home Sold Price for the last 12 months not to exceed $359,263.80 for applicants meeting income limits. Funds may be used for closing costs, first mortgage down payment or a combination of both needs. Up to $5,000 can be used for home repair costs such as roof repairs, window replacement, plumbing, electrical etc. The buyer must occupy the home for ten (10) years for the SHIP loan to be satisfied. A pre-qualification letter from your primary mortgage lender is required for submission of your application.
 
Assistance Limits for Manufactured Home Purchases: Assistance limits are $25,000 with a maximum purchase price of 90% of the Median Home Sold Price for the last 12 months not to exceed $359,263.80 for applicants meeting the income limits. Funds may be used for closing costs, first mortgage down payment or a combination of both. The buyer must occupy the home for ten (10) years for the SHIP loan to be satisfied. A pre-qualification letter from your primary mortgage lender is required for submission of your application. Only new and existing manufactured land/home packages less than 20 years old are eligible for assistance.
 
THE NASSAU COUNTY Grants Specialist administers the local SHIP program. Applications will be available on Friday, February 24th, 2023, at 9 a.m. and can be picked up at the address below. Individuals interested in participating in the SHIP program are encouraged to visit our website at www.nassaucountyfl.com and under DEPARTMENTS click on Office of Management and Budget then SHIP. It will provide Purchase Assistance Guidelines and Emergency Repair Guidelines for application or call Carol Gilchrist, Office of Management and Budget, 96135 Nassau Place, Suite 2, Yulee, FL 32097, (904) 530-6020, cgilchrist@nassaucountyfl.com.
 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
 
Contact:
Sabrina Robertson
Public Information Officer
(904) 530-6010
srobertson@nassaucountyfl.com
 
County Awarded Historic Resources Grant for Historical Resources Survey
 
Nassau County, Florida, June 25, 2021 – In May 2020, the Board of County Commissioners submitted an application to the State of Florida for a Historic Resources Grant to assist with Phase Two of a county-wide historic resources survey.
 
The purpose of the historic resource survey is to identify historic sites and structures within the County and submit the findings to the State of Florida for inclusion in the Florida Master Site File. The Master Site File is a form developed by the National Park Service that provides specific architectural, cultural, and historic information about each historic site and structure. Examples of historic sites include archeological sites, historic homes, commercial buildings, churches, barns, railroad beds, and bridges. County Master Site Files are several decades old and a new survey will determine which sites still exist and also identify historic sites and structures that have achieved historic significance in recent years.
 
The first phase of the project consisted of surveying areas in unincorporated Nassau County including 558 historic resources, each of which was recorded into a Master Site File. The second phase will consist of surveying an additional 1,200 – 1,300 structures in late 2021/early 2022. The last part of the project will be to complete the survey and recommend future historic preservation strategies for the County.
 
If you have any questions, please contact the Nassau County Planning Department at (904) 530-6300 or email planninginfo@nassaucountyfl.com.
 

Nassau County, Florida, November 5, 2020 - The Nassau County Commission has approved the use of the second funding of CARES Act Coronavirus Relief Funds (CRF) to assist in rental and mortgage payments. Any activities (reduction hours, reduction in income, termination/layoff of employment) that occurred between March 1, 2020 through December 30, 2020 due to COVID-19 are eligible.
The application submittal period will be November 19th – 30th, 2020. For your application to be considered, it must be received by the Nassau CARES office not later than the 5:00 p.m. on November 30, 2020. 
 
Information about the CRF Program for Rental and Mortgage Assistance will be available at https://www.nassaucountyfl.com/1039/Nassau-CARES starting at 8:00 a.m. on Thursday, November 19th, 2020. Application assistance will be available by contacting Carol Gilchrist between 8:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m., Thursday, November 19th, through Monday, November 30th at (904) 530-6020 or emailing cgilchrist@nassaucountyfl.com. The office will be closed on Thursday, November 26th and Friday, November 27th.
 
Application packets can be picked up at the following locations during the normal business hours:
 

• Nassau County, James S. Page Governmental Complex, 96135 Nassau Place, Yulee, FL 32097
• Callahan Town Hall, 542300 US Highway 1, Callahan, FL 32011
• Fernandina Beach City Hall, 204 Ash Street, Fernandina Beach, FL 32034
  

Online applications will be available at https://www.nassaucountyfl.com/1039/Nassau-CARES starting at 8:00 a.m. on Thursday, November 19th, 2020. To request application packets by email, send your request to cgilchrist@nassaucountyfl.com

Applications and documentation will be accepted at the drop box located at the front entrance of the James S. Page Governmental Complex, 96135 Nassau Place, Yulee, FL 32097 beginning Thursday, November 19th, 2020. For your application to be considered, it must be in the drop box no later than the 5:00 p.m. on Monday, November 30, 2020. 
 
Applications sent by mail or by FedEx should be addressed to Nassau CARES Application, 96135 Nassau Place, Yulee, FL 32097. Applications must be delivered by 5:00 p.m. on Monday, November 30th, 2020. Please note if the carrier does not deliver by 5 p.m. on Monday, November 30th, your application will be ineligible.
 
Incomplete applications or applications with missing documentation may be deemed ineligible.  Applications may not be reviewed if documents are missing, falsified or illegible.  Upon the review, if your application is incomplete, you will be notified by e-mail or telephone and will be provided an opportunity to submit the incomplete information by 5:00 p.m. the following business day.  The incomplete information will need to be hand-delivered to the Nassau County, James S. Page Governmental Complex, 96135 Nassau Place, Yulee, FL 32097 by the deadline. 
 
Eligible applicants will be selected for an award by an independent contractor.  The process for selection will be to sequentially number all submittals on Tuesday, December 1, 2020 (but not in date/time order of submittal).  After all applications have been numbered, a Random Sequence Generator will be used to establish a review sequence.  The applications will be reviewed based on random sequence until the maximum number of eligible applications are processed. 
 
Applicants will be notified of their award beginning December 1st, 2020 by e-mail or phone call.
 
 
 

8/3/20 @ 11:45 a.m.

For Immediate Release:

Nassau County is included as part of the $1.275 billion allocated to Florida’s 55 counties with populations less than 500,000 residents.  The Nassau County Cares Financial Assistance Plan (Plan) identifies the Service Areas (Services) approved by the Board of County Commissioners (BOCC) in July 2020.  On July 1, 2020, Nassau County received its initial allocation from the State of Florida.

The Nassau County Commission approved $2,200,000 of the County’s CARES Act funds to assist eligible small businesses.  Small businesses must document disruption or negative financial impacts due to COVID-19.  Applicants that meet the criteria are eligible to apply. The maximum award of up to $5,000 per applicant will be issued up to the funds approved by the BOCC.  Multiple submissions by the same applicant for the same single business or multiple applications by different applicants for the same business will be disqualified and deemed ineligible.  Any business that cannot meet all the requirements below are not eligible for the Nassau CARES Small Business Assistance.

• Business is a “For-profit” Business
• Business has nine (9) or less employees or full-time equivalent (FTE) employees.
• Business is not a publicly traded company.
• Business has experienced a business interruption or closures due to COVID-19.
• Business has not received funds covered by insurance or reimbursement from the Federal Payroll Protection Program (PPP), or other local, state or federal sources in excess of $50,000 related to COVID-19.
• Business is expected to operate after applicable local and state emergency guidelines are removed.
• Business commits to following all recommended COVID-19 safety guidelines.
• Business has earned less than 1.0 million in gross annual income for 2019.
• Business is physically located and operated within the boundaries of Nassau County, Florida.
• Business is wholly or partially owned by a Nassau County resident
• Business has been operating and can prove ongoing business operations since August 1, 2017 (3 years).
• Business is current on all Payroll taxes.
• Business is current on all Sales and Unemployment taxes.
• Business is current on all Property taxes.
• Business is current on all Federal Income taxes.
• Business has no current unpaid code enforcement liens or violation of any state, federal or local laws.
• No Business Owners, including all Managing Members and/or Officers, have been convicted of financial crimes within the past three years.
• No businesses that have as owners and/or employees who are current elected officials, directors, officers, employees, and contractors of the County and such individuals’ spouse.

The application submittal period is August 1 – 17, 2020. Information about the Small Business Assistance will be available starting August 1, 2020 at https://www.nassaucountyfl.com/1039/Nassau-CARES. Application assistance will be available by contacting the Nassau CARES hotline between 8:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday at (904) 530-6800 beginning on Monday, August 3, 2020 or by e-mailing cares@nassaucountyfl.com.

-Sabrina Robertson
 County Manager's Office

9/1/19 @ 4:20 p.m.- At the Florida Housing Coalition held in Orlando this week, Nassau County was recognized for a recent success story for a resident that received rehabilitation assistance through Nassau County's State Housing Initiatives Partnership (SHIP) Program.

The SHIP Program was established by the passage of the 1992 William E. Sadowski Affordable Housing Act and provides funding to local governments to produce and preserve affordable home ownership. In order to participate, counties must establish a local housing assistance program by Ordinance and develop a local housing assistance plan and housing incentive strategy. Funds are then allocated to local governments on a population based-formula. The funds are used for emergency repairs, new construction, rehabilitation, and down payment and closing cost assistance for very-low, low and moderate income families who meet all the requirements listed in Florida Statutes, Chapter 420.907, Florida Administrative Code 67-37, and Nassau County's Local Housing Assistance Plan.

The SHIP success story was shared previously with Nassau County residents on June 25, 2019. Click here to see the original story and to view the video.

The State asked counties to submit videos of their local recipients to share resident's personal experiences with the program and to spread awareness to other residents who may need assistance. We were notified on August 15th that our video was selected as one that best reflects the SHIP Program and how it changes the lives of those in need.

This couldn't have been done without the efforts of our SHIP Coordinator, Carol Gilchrist. Great job Carol!

6/25/19 @ 9:20 a.m. - In July 2018, we shared a story regarding Nassau County homes that were rehabilitated using State Housing Initiative Program (SHIP) Funds. To view the story, please click here.

Now, two residents are sharing their stories about their personal experience with this program in order to spread awareness to other residents who may need home improvements but have no way to pay for the expenses to make the repairs themselves.

SHIP Success Story One
SHIP Success Story Two

The SHIP Program was established by the passage of the 1992 William E. Sadowski Affordable Housing Act and provides funding to local governments to produce and preserve affordable home ownership. In order to participate, counties must establish a local housing assistance program by Ordinance and develop a local housing assistance plan and housing incentive strategy. Funds are then allocated to local governments on a population based-formula. The funds are used for emergency repairs, new construction, rehabilitation, and down payment and closing cost assistance for very-low, low and moderate income families who meet all the requirements listed in Florida Statutes, Chapter 420.907, Florida Administrative Code 67-37, and Nassau County's Local Housing Assistance Plan.

For additional information about the SHIP Program including income requirements and associated guidelines, please visit our website. You may also contact the Grants Office at (904) 530-6020 or e-mail Carol Gilchrist at cgilchrist@nassaucountyfl.com.

-Sabrina Robertson
 County Manager's Office

8/29/18 @ 3:30 p.m. -  

The Nassau County Board of County Commissioners has approximately $120,000 in affordable housing dollars available through the State Housing Initiatives Partnership (SHIP) Program to serve persons with Developmental Disability/Disabling Condition/Special Needs providing home modifications/rehabilitation to an existing home or providing down payment and closing cost assistance to those qualifying to purchase a home or to the family member with whom they reside. Mobile homes are not eligible for assistance.
 
Developmental Disability means a disorder or syndrome that is attributable to intellectual disability, cerebral palsy, autism, spina bifida, or Prader-Willi syndrome; that manifests before the age of 18; and that constitutes a substantial handicap that can reasonably be expected to continue indefinitely.
s. 393.063(9) Florida Statues
 
Disabling Condition means a diagnosable substance abuse disorder, serious mental illness, developmental disability or chronic physical illness or disability or the co-occurrence of two or more of these conditions, and a determination that the condition is:

1. Expected to be long-continued and indefinite duration and
2. Not expected to impair the ability of the person with special needs to live independently with appropriate supports.

 s.420.004(7) Florida Statues
 
Special Needs means an adult person requiring independent living services in order to maintain housing or develop independent living skills and who has a disabling condition:

1. A young adult formerly in foster care who is eligible for services under s. 409.1451(5)
2. A survivor of domestic violence as defined in s. 741.28 or
3. A person receiving disability benefits under the Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) program, the Supplemental Security Income (SSI) program or from Veteran’s Disability Benefits.

For additional information, please visit our website. You may also contact Grants Specialist, Carol Gilchrist, at (904) 530-6020 or via e-mail at cgilchrist@nassaucountyfl.com.

-Sabrina Robertson
 County Manager's Office

9/21/17 @ 3:15 p.m. - Please see the below Press Release from the Nassau County Grants Office:

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CAROL GILCHRIST
(904) 530-6020
 
SHIP Funds Available to Aid in Disaster Relief for Low-Income Families
 
Executive Order Number 17-235 was issued by Governor Rick Scott on September 4, 2017, due to threats related to Hurricane Irma. The Executive Order allows local government to use unencumbered State Housing Initiatives Partnership (SHIP) funds to carry out activities related to disaster relief. (Florida Administrative Code, 67-37.005(9)) This State of Emergency shall expire 6 months from the date of this order.
 
Nassau County citizens in need of emergency assistance for damages related to Hurricane Irma could qualify for up to $5,000 in grant funds to be used to protect their home from further damage. Examples include tree removal from home, hiring of a cleaning service to extract water, roof repairs, boarding of broken windows, and payment of insurance deductible. Mobile homes and rental properties are not eligible.
 
Assistance is only for very-low and low income families. This applies to those with household income equal to or less than 80% of the area median income as shown on the chart below.
                                          
Household Size                     Annual Income Limit                         
1                                  $36,050
2                                  $41,200
3                                  $46,350
4                                  $51,500
5                                  $55,650
6                                  $59,750
7                                  $63,900
8                                  $68,000
 
Nassau County citizens meeting the above requirements and in need of assistance should contact the Nassau County SHIP Office at (904) 530-6020. Applicants will be required to fill out a Disaster Self Certification Form and a SHIP Application, and must provide income documentation.
 
 ******************************************************************************************************
-Sabrina Robertson
 County Manager's Office