The Wakulla County Board of County Commissioners anticipates receiving $356,001 in funding for State Fiscal Year 2022/2023 (which excludes administration costs), SHIP program to be used for the following Local Housing Assistance Plan strategies: Owner-Occupied Rehabilitation, Demolition/Replacement, and Homebuyer Purchase Assistance. Please note that funding for rehabilitation or replacement will only be used to support existing housing.  The strategies are as follows:

Homebuyer Purchase Assistance Strategy
The purpose of this strategy is to provide down payment assistance and principal reduction to first-time homebuyers that are eligible under the SHIP guidelines. The maximum amount of SHIP funds that may be awarded per unit is $15,000. Potential homebuyers will be required to qualify for a mortgage through a financial institution. Up to $15,000 may be applied towards securing the home. Homebuyers may not have claimed homestead exemption in the last three years. Funds will be awarded on a first come, first ready-to- close basis. Funding for this category is very limited.

Owner-Occupied Rehabilitation/Replacement Strategy
The purpose of this strategy is to provide repairs or improvements needed for safe and sanitary rehabilitation or replacement and/or correction of code violations. The maximum amount of SHIP funds that may be awarded per unit is $35,000 for Rehabilitation or $100,000 for Replacement. The decision on whether the house is to be considered for replacement or rehabilitation will be made by Wakulla County. The homeowner must claim homestead exemption and the home must be occupied by the owner to be considered for rehabilitation or replacement. Applicants are limited to assistance once every (10) years. Applications will be considered as directed by the Local Housing Assistance Plan.

 

All applications will be considered on a first come/first qualified basis using the LHAP priorities regarding funding strategy goals and limitations. Funding priority for all categories will be persons with special needs as defined by 420.0004 Florida Statutes.  Awards for all strategies is subject to availability of funds. Questions regarding the SHIP program and application process should be directed to
Tara Reynolds, Government Services Group, an Anser Advisory Company, at (850) 681- 3717.
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LOW INCOME HOME ENERGY ASSISTANCE PROGRAM (LIHEAP)WEATHERIZATION ASSISTANCE PROGRAM (WAP)Wakulla County residents may also be able to receive assistance through the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) and WEATHERIZATION Assistance Program (WAP). Capital Area Community Action Agency (CACAA) administers the LIHEAP and WAP programs in Wakulla County. CACAA can be contacted at (850) 926-3122 or at (850) 653-8057 (Apalachicola Office number).  Their offices are located at the Wakulla Career Center, 2932 Crawfordville Highway, Crawfordville, FL 32327.
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HOUSING CHOICE VOUCHER (SECTION 8)
Wakulla County citizens may also be able to receive rental and utility payment assistance through the Housing Choice Voucher (Section 8) program.  The Section 8 program is administered by the North Central Florida Regional Housing Authority (NCFRHA).  NCFRHA staff are now available to meet with citizens at the Wakulla County Community Center located at  318 Shadeville Road (at the corner of Trice Rd.  and Shadeville Rd.)

 The schedule for the 2022 NCFRHA staff office days in Wakulla County are as follows:
June 9, 23
July 14, 28
August 11, 25
September 8, 22
October 13, 27
November 17
December 8
Office hours are from 1:00 to 4:00pm
 If you need Housing assistance, please contact NCFRHA at (352) 486-5420  or (800) 664-5197
or email housing@ncfrha.com.
Information is also available at  www.ncfrha.com.
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FAIR HOUSING
What is Fair Housing? Fair housing is your right under the law to compete equally for housing, without regard to race, color, national origin, religion, sex, disability, family status, genetic information or any other protected class. Fair housing is a right, not a privilege. Federal law prohibits housing discrimination based on protected classes such as your race, color, national origin, religion, sex, family status, or disability. 

For more information on Fair Housing Rights of Persons with Disabilities, please click here.
To visit the Fair Housing Act, please click here . 
For Basic Facts About Fair Housing, please click here . 
             Or to view a short PSA on Fair Housing visit http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MiH4QyJWobo .

Minority and Women Business Enterprises (M/WBE) (Supplier Diversity)
The Wakulla County Board of County Commissioners is committed to supplier diversity in the performance of all contracts associated with Federal and State funding projects. For projects funded through the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) program, the County and the Bidder/Contractor are required to make good faith efforts to encourage the participation of minority owned and woman owned and small business enterprises in accordance with applicable laws.

The Bidder/Contractor will be required to submit documentation to reflect the affirmative action steps taken to utilize certified minority- and women-owned businesses in the work and the intended use of these companies in the work. Documentation shall include evidence that qualified minority and women’s businesses have been solicited for subcontracting work and/or supplies, as may be needed to complete the work. The list of certified minority- and women-owned businesses that operate in the Wakulla County region can be found at the following web address:
Florida Department of Management Services, Office of Supplier Diversity https://www.dms.myflorida.com/agency_administration/office_of_supplier_diversity_osd
The Bidder/Contractor will be responsible for participating in these affirmative steps and providing documentation to that effect.

It is the policy of the Wakulla County Board of County Commissioners, in keeping with the laws of the United States of America and the spirit of the Constitution of the State of Florida, to promote through fair, orderly and lawful procedure the opportunity for each person so desiring to obtain housing of such person's choice in this County, without regard to race, color, ancestry, national origin, religion, sex, marital status, familial status, handicap, or age, and, to that end, to prohibit discrimination in housing by any person. For more information on Fair Housing contact the Fair Housing Coordinator as follows:

Lynda Brahier
Fair Housing Coordinator
3093 Crawfordville Highway Crawfordville, Fl. 32327
850-926-3695 ext. 741.- Phone
(850) 926-1528 – Fax
lbrahier@mywakulla.com