The City of Jacksonville has launched the SHIP Single-Family Development Program to increase affordable homeownership opportunities for very low-income households. It will initially build 10 affordable homes and pair eligible buyers with downpayment assistance to purchase them.
The new program utilizes State Housing Initiatives Partnership (SHIP) funds to provide short-term construction loans to non-profit developers to build new single-family homes that will be sold to buyers earning at or below 50% of Area Median Income (AMI), which is $35,900 per year for a single person household or $51,250 per year for a family of four.
The loans will be fully repaid to the city at the home’s closing, allowing the funds to be reused for additional housing projects. This “revolving loan approach” will maximize the impact of SHIP funding while supporting the ongoing production of affordable units.
“We’re excited to increase affordable homeownership opportunities in Jacksonville and create new pathways for families to build generational wealth,” said Mayor Donna Deegan. “Thanks to our Housing and Community Development Division for creating this innovative program and to the City Council for approving it.”
“The SHIP Single-Family Development Program provides a practical, sustainable strategy for building more housing that is affordable,” said Housing and Community Development Division Chief Travis Jeffrey. “By leveraging short-term construction loans that are repaid at closing, the city will create a continuous pipeline of new homes for families who need them most.”
The benefits of the SHIP Single-Family Development Program include:
- Expanding Jacksonville’s affordable housing supply for very low-income families.
- Promoting homeownership and helping families build equity and stability.
- Strengthening neighborhoods through new construction and increased owner occupancy.
- Reinvesting public funds to create a long-term, sustainable funding source for future development.
Funding for this project was made possible by Ordinance #2026-0065-E, which was unanimously approved by the Jacksonville City Council in late February. It appropriates $2 million towards the program, including $1.5 million in construction loans and $500,000 for downpayment assistance. The City of Jacksonville Housing and Community Development Division is currently finalizing a construction RFP that will go through a transparent procurement process.