Our Mission:
Providing adequate, safe and affordable housing to very low, low and moderate income residents, while supporting the City of Lakeland's redevelopment efforts and promoting self-sufficiency.
The City of Lakeland's Housing Office administers a number of Federal and State grant programs designed for the preservation and development of affordable housing, and expended economic opportunities for persons of low to moderate income.
Funding is generally restricted to benefit very low, low and moderate income residents and families. See Income Chart or contact the Housing Office for additional details.
What is Affordable Housing?
Housing is affordable if it costs no more than 30% of one’s income. People who pay more than this are considered “cost-burdened.” Those who pay more than 50% are “severely cost-burdened.” High housing prices can slow down a local economy, leaving jobs unfilled and siphoning spending power away from local goods and services.
The City of Lakeland is committed to partnering with developers to encourage the construction of safe, affordable, high-quality housing. The following table shows units constructed or planned from October 2019 to present.
DISASTER ASSISTANCE
State Housing Initiatives Partnership (SHIP)
The City of Lakeland's Housing Department may be able to help low and very low-income households with disaster-related housing repairs and relocation assistance. Following a disaster as declared by the President of the United States or the Governor of the State of Florida, SHIP funds may be used to address emergency housing repair. This strategy aims to address the immediate health and safety needs of eligible clients in the event of a disaster. Relocation assistance may be provided.
Generally, such needs may include the purchase of emergency supplies for income-eligible households to weatherproof damaged homes; provide interim repairs to avoid further damage; tree and debris removal; or other assistance as necessary to make individual housing units habitable. This assistance would additionally be for non-insured repairs such as insurance deductible expenses.
Clients are served on a “first qualified, first served basis.” The maximum award is $85,000. Mobile homes are not eligible for assistance.
Contact the Housing Department at housing@lakelandgov.net or 863.834.3360 for more information.
Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA)
Individuals and households can also apply to FEMA for help with temporary housing, basic home repairs, and certain other uninsured disaster-related needs. To apply, visit disasterassistance.gov or call 800-621-3362 from 7 a.m. to 11 p.m. ET, or by using the FEMA mobile app. If you use a relay service such as video relay service (VRS) or captioned telephone service, give FEMA the number for that service.
Potential applicants should contact their insurance companies first because FEMA will not pay for items that insurance covers.
- For an accessible video on how to apply for assistance go to, youtube.com/watch?v=WZGpWI2RCNw.
- For information on Florida’s recovery from Hurricane Ian, visit fema.gov/disaster/hurricane-ian.
- Follow FEMA on Twitter at FEMA Region 4 (@femaregion4) / Twitter and at facebook.com/fema.
Housing Rehabilitation Available
The City of Lakeland's Planning & Housing Division is accepting applications for Rehabilitation of Owner-Occupied, Single-Family Homes ONLINE ONLY. Applicants must own and have lived in their home for at least one year prior to applying for rehabilitation assistance. Mobile homes and rental properties are not eligible for rehabilitation assistance. Homes in historic districts are subject to additional program restrictions.
| CITY OF LAKELAND, FLORIDA | ||||
| HOUSING ASSISTANCE INCOME SCHEDULE | ||||
| % OF AREA MEDIAN INCOME | CDBG & HOME UP TO 80% (Federal Funds) | |||
| EXTREMELY LOW | VERY LOW | LOW | ||
| 30% | 50% | 60% | 80% | |
| BASED ON FAMILY SIZE | HUD & FHFC | HUD & FHFC | FHFC | HUD & FHFC |
| 1 | 15,000 | 25,000 | 30,000 | 40,000 |
| 2 | 17,150 | 28,600 | 34,320 | 45,700 |
| 3 | 19,300 | 32,150 | 38,580 | 51,400 |
| 4 | 21,411 | 35,700 | 42,840 | 57,100 |
| 5 | 23,150 | 38,600 | 46,320 | 61,700 |
| 6 | 24,850 | 41,450 | 49,740 | 66,250 |
| 7 | 26,550 | 44,300 | 53,160 | 70,850 |
| 8 | 28,250 | 47,150 | 56,580 | 75,400 |
|
Income levels are based on Area Median Income (AMI) for family of four at $74,300. Data effective June 15, 2023 and retrieved from the following web sources: HUD=https://www.huduser.gov/portal/datasets/il/il2023/2023summary.odn Florida Housing Finance Corporation (FHFC) -https://www.floridahousing.org/owners-and-managers/compliance/income-limits (2023) |
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The Planning & Housing Division is located:
1104 Martin L. King, Jr. Avenue
Lakeland, Florida 33805
Sources of funding for this program may include Community Development Block Grant (CDBG), HOME Investment Partnerships Program (HOME), and the State Housing Initiatives Partnership Program (SHIP). For more information, please contact the Housing Office at 863.834.3360 or by email to housing@lakelandgov.net.
