political perspective Affordable Housing on the Horizon by: Valerie Sale, Bay County Chief of Communications
O
n January 3rd, Bay County launched its new housing program to expand and fast-track access to available, affordable housing dollars to residents throughout the
county.
“We’ve certainly seen a lot of growth since Hurricane Michael, and now, more than ever, affordable housing is a critical need,”
housing rehabilitation, home replacement, disaster assistance, emergency repair assistance, foreclosure prevention, and mortgage assistance. Another approximately $6 million is available to Bay County through the State Housing Initiatives Partnership program (SHIP).
Bay County Commissioner Doug Moore said. “We are confident
“This is a transformational amount of money and must benefit
that our program will be of tremendous benefit to those citizens
those still in need as swiftly as we can possibly get it into our
who still have needs and will streamline their application process
community,” Moore said.
while also expanding opportunities for assistance available to the
6
low- and moderate-income families with purchase assistance,
public.”
“The assistance is available to qualified residents in Bay County,
Some $30 million in Hurricane Housing Recovery Program funding
SHIP program,” Program Manager Tammy Harris said. “Our aim
allotted to Bay County by the Florida Housing Finance Corporation
here is to move people through this program quickly. Our motto is
after Hurricane Michael is available through the program to assist
‘first applied, first qualified, first served.’”
BAY BIZ / WINTER 2022
though Panama City Residences are asked to go through the city’s
