State Housing Initiatives Partnership (SHIP)
Lee County’s SHIP program provides funding to local not-for-profit housing development agencies for the production, preservation and rehabilitation of affordable housing. The program was designed to serve very low, low and moderate income families. For more information concerning SHIP email SHIPhousing@leegov.com.
Ship Funding 2026/2027
Lee County announces the availability of funding for the SHIP Program.
The SHIP program was created per Florida Statute 420.907 and is subject to the rules of Florida Administrative Code 67-37, and the 2023-2026 and 2026-2029 Lee County Local Housing Assistance Plans.
The projected funding available for FY2024-2025 is $440,271, FY 2025-2026 is $674,361 and FY 2026-2027 is $3,214,822. All funding is subject to the funds being received from the Florida Housing Finance Corporation.
Required Pre-application Meeting: A pre-application meeting with staff is required before applying. Pre-application meetings will be scheduled from August 31, 2026, through September 23, 2026. To request a pre-application meeting, please contact Lindsay Hickey at (239) 533-8311 or lhickey@leegov.com.
SHIP Application Deadline is 4:00 p.m. on October 12, 2026: The application period is from September 24, 2026, to October 12, 2026. No application will be accepted prior to September 24, 2026, or after October 12, 2026, at 4:00 p.m. Applications received after the deadline will be disqualified.
Application: Applications are available here FY 2026/2027 SHIP Application. For questions or additional information, please contact Lindsay Hickey at (239) 533-8311 or lhickey@leegov.com. All applications must email to adietrich@leegov.com by 4:00 pm on October 12, 2026. Applications received after the deadline will be disqualified. If you need link to submit the application, please contact Lindsay Hickey at (239) 533-8311 or lhickey@leegov.com
Other Assistance Resources
The United Way connects people who need assistance with a large network of non-profits and agencies. 211 is a United Way program that provides free information and referral to human/social service agencies within Lee, Hendry, and Glades Counties. To speak with a Community Resource Specialist please dial 2-1-1 or 239-433-3900.
School Impact Fee Reimbursement Program (SIFR)
Lee County’s School Impact Fee Reimbursement Program helps reduce the cost of building affordable housing by reimbursing the school impact fees paid during construction. These fees—normally charged on new development to support school capacity—can add significant expense to housing projects. Through SIFR, eligible non‑profit and government builders can recover those costs, making it easier to create and preserve affordable homes in our community.
This program supports Lee County’s commitment to expanding affordable housing by lowering development barriers and encouraging mission‑driven organizations to build where it’s needed most.
Program Highlights
Document Library
For more information concerning SHIP, call 239-533-8585.