Checked November 2026
Who still has money: Florida program funding status
A snapshot of 50 Florida homebuyer programs: how many are taking applications, which are low on funds or paused, and the biggest awards still on the table.
19taking applications
18limited funds
5waitlist only
8paused for now
The biggest awards still accepting buyers
| Program | Where | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Deltona SHIP DPA - Essential Service Personnel income tier | City of Deltona | Up to $60,000; eligible up to 140% AMI ($138,740 for 4) vs 120% for others |
| First-Time Homebuyer Program (SHIP/HOME) | City of Miami | Up to $130,002 (based on bedroom count) |
| SHIP Purchase Assistance (LHAP) | St. Lucie County | Up to $125,000 ($100,000 DPA/closing + $25,000 repairs) |
| SHIP Purchase Assistance without Rehab (LHAP) | Collier County | Very low $110,000 ESP / $100,000 non-ESP; low $90,000 / $80,000; moderate $80,000 / $70,000 |
| Collier County SHIP Purchase Assistance - ESP awards | Collier County | $10,000 more than non-ESP at each tier (up to $110,000 very low) |
| Home Purchase Assistance (SHIP LHAP) | City of Port St. Lucie | Up to $103,500 |
| Home Purchase Assistance Strategy (SHIP LHAP) | City of West Palm Beach | Up to $100,000 (repairs capped at $25,000) |
| SHIP/HFA Purchase Assistance (Home Sweet Home Hillsborough) | Hillsborough County (also Brevard, Clay, Duval) | DPA $15,000 in Hillsborough, $5,000 City of Tampa, $15,000 Brevard, $10,000 Duval (per eHousingPlus chart); LHAP allows SHIP awards up to $100,000 |
Sorted by the top dollar figure each program publishes. Programs that pay a percentage can go higher on pricier homes.
Paused, waitlisted or running low
You can't count on these to take an application today. Ask for an alert and we'll tell you when one reopens.
| Program | Where it stands | |
|---|---|---|
| Homeownership Pool (HOP) Program | Limited funds | |
| Home Buyer Purchase Assistance | Limited funds | |
| Housing Purchase Assistance Program (SHIP) | Limited funds | |
| SHIP Purchase Assistance Program | Paused for now | |
| Home Purchase Assistance Strategy (SHIP LHAP) | Limited funds | |
| Down Payment Assistance (DPA) Program | Paused for now | |
| Down Payment Assistance Program | Paused for now | |
| Headstart to Homeownership (H2H) Program | Limited funds | |
| Housing Down Payment Assistance Program (SHIP) and CRA DPA | Waitlist only | |
| SHIP Purchase Assistance (LHAP) | Limited funds | |
| Down Payment/Closing Cost Assistance (SHIP LHAP) | Limited funds | |
| Gap Financing (Down Payment & Closing Cost Assistance) | Paused for now | |
| Purchase Assistance Program | Limited funds | |
| Purchase Assistance with Rehabilitation (SHIP) | Waitlist only | |
| Homebuyer Assistance Program | Paused for now | |
| SHIP Down Payment Assistance Program | Waitlist only | |
| Purchase Assistance Program | Paused for now | |
| Purchase Assistance / Down Payment Assistance (SHIP) | Paused for now | |
| SHIP Purchase Assistance (LHAP) | Limited funds | |
| SHIP Purchase Assistance (LHAP) | Limited funds | |
| Purchase Assistance (SHIP LHAP) | Limited funds | |
| SHIP Purchase Assistance (LHAP) | Limited funds | |
| SHIP Purchase Assistance (LHAP) | Limited funds | |
| Purchase Assistance (SHIP LHAP) | Limited funds | |
| SHIP Purchase Assistance without Rehab (LHAP) | Limited funds | |
| SHIP Purchase Assistance (LHAP) | Limited funds | |
| Home Purchase Assistance (SHIP LHAP) | Limited funds | |
| City of Orlando DPA - first-time rule exception | Paused for now | |
| Deltona SHIP DPA - Essential Service Personnel income tier | Waitlist only | |
| Collier County SHIP Purchase Assistance - ESP awards | Limited funds | |
| St. Petersburg SHIP DPA - ESP priority | Waitlist only |
How the help is structured
| Structure | Number of programs |
|---|---|
| Forgivable second loan | 27 |
| Deferred loan, due at sale or refinance | 13 |
| Other | 5 |
| Federal tax credit (MCC) | 3 |
| Second loan with monthly payments | 1 |
Here's the part buyers miss: in Florida, most of this help is a loan. A forgivable loan fades away if you stay put long enough. A deferred loan sits quietly until you sell or refinance, then comes due. See what you'd owe if you leave early.
Narrow it to you
The program search filters these by county and job, and a loan officer confirms what you'd qualify for. Free, no credit pull.
