Okaloosa County tweaks SHIP rehab rules, agrees to explore raising LHAP rehab cap to $100,000

Okaloosa County commissioners approved amendments to the county’s SHIP (State Housing Initiatives Partnership) policy to add energy-efficient appliances and repairs to existing fences as eligible expenses for owner-occupied rehabilitation.

Britney Orr, the county’s housing program manager, said the appliance change aims to reduce utility costs for low- and moderate-income households and that fence repairs were proposed because some fence work is a life-and-safety matter or is needed to resolve code-enforcement issues. “The inclusion of the repair for existing fences…can be seen as a life and safety issue,” Orr said.

Commissioners debated whether fence repair is a core use of limited housing dollars. Some members favored keeping the category but limiting its share; the board adopted an amendment limiting fencing to 10% of a project’s total allowable cost when the motion to do so was offered and accepted.

The board also discussed broader program design changes, including possible limited insurance assistance for repair projects and incentives or matching structures for any future down-payment assistance program. Commissioners asked staff to prepare a revised LHAP (Local Housing Assistance Plan) for 2021–2025 that would consider raising the homeowner rehab cap. Commissioner Goodwin moved to raise the LHAP cap to $100,000 and the motion passed unanimously after the board agreed to walk on a revision now and finalize the details at a future meeting.

Commissioners urged stronger outreach to increase program uptake among eligible residents and asked staff to return with precise policy language (including any caps, eligibility limits and duration of forgivable loans) before implementing the LHAP changes.