Treasure Coast Sun

The City of Port St. Lucie is set to reopen its Home Repair & Rehabilitation Program on January 29, 2025, supported by a $1.8 million grant from the State Housing Initiative Partnership (SHIP). This funding, awarded through the Florida Housing Finance Corporation, aims to aid eligible city residents with home repairs.

To assist residents in understanding and applying for this program, the city will host two informational sessions on January 17, 2025. These sessions will be held both virtually and in person at 1 p.m. and 6 p.m. in the Council Chambers at City Hall.

Residents who qualify can apply for funds up to $50,000 to address critical home repair needs. The Neighborhood Service Housing Division will begin accepting pre-applications at 9 a.m. on January 29, until they reach the cap of 100 applications.

The Homeowner Repair & Rehabilitation Assistance Program targets low-income homeowners needing financial support for approved repairs or rehabilitation projects for their primary residence. The program offers deferred payment loans at zero percent interest for improvements related to health, safety, and energy efficiency.

These loans are forgivable over a period of fifteen years under specific program guidelines. Repairs covered include addressing code violations and improvements related to weatherization, roofing, plumbing, electrical systems, and septic systems. However, manufactured homes and unauthorized repairs are not eligible.

Starting January 29 at 9 a.m., interested applicants can begin the process by completing an online pre-application questionnaire on the city's website. For those unable to access the application online, assistance is available via phone or in-person visits to City Hall.

Applicants meeting all eligibility criteria will be notified about their application status by city staff through telephone or email where applicable. Once the maximum number of applications is reached, a notice will be published online indicating that the list has closed. Eligible applicants with complete submissions will undergo a random selection process rather than first-come-first-served review.

Should additional funds become available later on, the city plans to reopen applications and notify residents accordingly with ample advance notice.