SUMTER COUNTY, FL (352today.com) – A Sumter County woman and her daughter have the keys to a brand-new home thanks to a program designed to get people out of unsafe living conditions.
Lynn Diss has called Sumter County home for the past ten years. The county says she was previously residing in a subpar manufactured home.
With the help of the SHIP program, the family was able to replace their unsafe living conditions with a modern, handicap-accessible 3-bedroom, one-bath residence.
The new home also has a living room, kitchen, utility room, and dining area.
What’s Diss most excited about?
“I’ll be happy to have a washer and drier in the home again,” she said.
The county says Diss’ new home was made possible through a collaborative effort between the Sumter County Board of County Commissioners and the Florida State Housing Initiatives Partnership (SHIP) program.
What is the SHIP program?
The SHIP program provides funding for homeowners to construct new, site-built homes in place of structures deemed unsafe for habitation.
According to the county, funds are also allocated for the demolition of hazardous structures and necessary upgrades to well and septic systems.
A primary goal of the program is to transition residents from mobile homes into more durable, energy-efficient single-family homes that can better withstand severe weather conditions.
The county says SHIP funds are used to assist eligible first-time homebuyers and can be used to pay for things like:
- down payment
- first mortgage buydown
- surveys
- appraisals
- inspections
- other customary closing costs
The maximum assistance is $20,000 and is in the form of a 0% interest loan.
The county says money is provided on a first-qualified, first-served basis until the funds are expended. The borrower does not have to contribute any money to qualify.
To get more information and apply for assistance, visit the Sumter County website.