No $50M Vote: Jacksonville Advances $2M SHIP Housing Program

The City of Jacksonville's Housing and Community Development Division launched the SHIP Single-Family Development Program in March 2026, using $1.5 million in short-term construction loans to nonprofit developers and $500,000 for buyer down payment assistance. Eligible buyers must earn no more than $35,900 annually for an individual or $51,250 for a family of four. Loans will be repaid to the city upon home sales, enabling a revolving fund for future projects, according to city officials cited in the ordinance approval. Mayor Donna Deegan highlighted the program's role in building generational wealth and expanding homeownership amid a local shortage of 50,000 affordable units. "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," said Housing and Community Development Director Uche Jeffery. The division is finalizing a request for proposals through the city's transparent procurement process to select developers. This initiative builds on broader efforts, including 7,000 below-market-rate homes built or announced since mid-2023, with 6,000 qualifying as affordable. City leaders, including Deegan, are also reviving plans for an affordable housing trust fund in the 2026-27 budget, seeded from existing sources, as stated in April interviews. Nearly 40% of Jacksonville households qualify for affordable housing, many cost-burdened by spending over 30% of income on shelter. The program aligns with Florida's statewide SHIP framework under the 1992 William E. Sadowski Affordable Housing Act, which allocates funds to local governments like Jacksonville for public-private partnerships. As the state reports a 2.8% unemployment rate and property tax relief in its $120 billion budget, these local measures aim to bolster housing stability amid economic recovery and storm preparedness concerns.