Downpayments can be the biggest hurdle to homeownership.

SHIP (State Housing Initiatives Partnership) funds are state-allocated financial assistance designed to help homebuyers with down payments and closing costs. Administered locally by Polk County or the respective City, SHIP funds make homeownership more affordable in Lakeland, Polk County, and Winter Haven.

Key Benefits:

• Lower upfront costs
• Grants
• Forgivable Loans
• Limited Funds

For homes in Polk County but outside the city limits of Lakeland and Winter Haven, Polk County handles the assistance through its GAP Financing Program. For homes inside the City of Lakeland, the City of Lakeland handles its own Home Purchase Assistance Program. For homes inside the City of Winter Haven, the City of Winter Haven handles its own assistance process.

This matters because the address and municipality of the property determine which program rules, income limits, funding availability, application process, and timeline may apply. A home may have a Lakeland or Winter Haven mailing address but still be outside those city limits, so the property’s actual jurisdiction needs to be verified before building the strategy around a specific assistance program.