The city of Miami offers assistance of up to $150,000 to rehabilitate homes for owners with limited income, through a program that allows financing for repairs to roofs, electrical systems, plumbing, and other issues that impact the safety and livability of the houses.
The assistance is part of the State Housing Initiatives Partnership (SHIP), a Florida state program locally administered by the Miami Department of Housing and Community Development.
According to the official notice published by the City of Miami, the call for the fiscal year 2026-2027 started accepting applications on September 14 and will remain available until the allocated funds are exhausted.
However, there is an important warning: the regular rehabilitation program already has a waiting list, so submitting an application does not mean receiving funding immediately.
How much money does Miami offer to repair a home?
The call includes different types of assistance for homeowners and home buyers, with varying economic limits:
Home Rehabilitation: up to 150,000 dollars.
Emergency repairs: up to $75,000.
Housing Replacement: up to $375,000 when it is necessary to replace a structure that cannot be adequately rehabilitated.
First home purchase: up to 130,002 dollars, depending on the number of rooms and the program conditions.
The four modalities are part of the same SHIP call, although they have different requirements and objectives.
The municipal notice states that Miami will receive at least $2,211,782 in state funding for the entire set of these strategies during the fiscal year 2026-2027.
This amount is not exclusively intended for home repairs, and individual assistance depends on assessed needs, the applicant's eligibility, and available resources.
Who can apply for the $150,000?
The municipal housing rehabilitation program is aimed at individuals who are already homeowners and need to make repairs to keep their residence safe and habitable.
The main requirements include:
Owning the property and using it as a primary residence.
Living within the administrative limits of the city of Miami. It is not enough to have a Miami postal address or to reside in any municipality of Miami-Dade.
Meet the applicable family income limits. The operational rehabilitation page identifies households with incomes of up to 80% of the area's median income as eligible.
Respect the property value limit. The call sets a maximum of $679,324 for the homes included in the rehabilitation modalities.
Pass the evaluation of the Department of Housing and provide the documentation requested by the municipal authorities.
The program includes single-family homes, townhouses, and certain condominiums occupied by their owners, as long as they meet the corresponding conditions.
The city also establishes preferences for certain households, including elderly homeowners and individuals with special needs.
How much can a family earn to qualify?
Miami uses the Area Median Income (AMI) indicator, which sets income limits based on the number of people in the household.
In the current municipal income table effective May 1, 2026, the level equivalent to 80% of the AMI for SHIP programs is:
A person: $76,300 per year.
Two people: $87,200 per year.
Three people: 98,100 dollars a year.
Four people: 109,000 dollars per year.
Five people: 117,750 dollars annually.
These amounts correspond to the family income limits published by the city, not to the amounts disbursed to the beneficiaries.
As SHIP also considers moderate income categories in other modalities, each owner must confirm the specific limit applicable to their file before submitting the application.
What repairs can be financed?
The program is designed to address deficiencies that affect the safety and habitability of a property.
Among the jobs that can be considered are the repairs of damaged roofs, plumbing systems, electrical installations, and other necessary works to ensure that the housing meets safety and health standards.
Structural issues and situations related to the non-compliance with certain building codes may also be assessed.
It is not about general assistance for aesthetic renovations or luxury improvements. The works must be evaluated and authorized within the program.
If a residence poses hazardous conditions for its occupants, the owner may classify their request as an emergency. In that case, the City Council includes an inspection to determine whether emergency rehabilitation measures should be applied.
Are the $150,000 free, or do they have to be paid back?
This is one of the most important aspects for those interested in applying for assistance.
Financing should not be confused with a cash payment to the owner.
The local housing plan of Miami includes a loan mechanism for ordinary rehabilitation with deferred payment, 0% interest, and a ten-year period.
Under normal circumstances, the loan can be forgiven at the end of that period if the owner fulfills the established obligations.
However, certain situations may prompt the demand for a return, such as selling or transferring ownership, turning it into a rental property, or ceasing to use it as the primary residence during the period subject to restrictions.
In July 2026, the city also approved a modification to the local housing plan regarding the repayment conditions when the original beneficiary passes away, so owners and their heirs must review the current terms before signing.
Therefore, although the assistance can be very beneficial for families who do not have the resources to repair their home, it is essential to understand the terms of the loan and the obligations attached to the property.
How to apply for rehabilitation assistance in Miami
The city has a specific procedure for homeowners interested in rehabilitating or replacing their homes.
The main steps are as follows:
Check that the property belongs to the city of Miami. The municipal website explains that this can be verified through the county property records, and that the folio numbers corresponding to the city start with 01.
Review household income and property value. Both must meet the current requirements.
Request the rehabilitation form. It can be requested via email at SFRPapplication@miamigov.com or by calling 305-416-2080.
Complete the application and submit it following the municipal instructions. If there are hazardous conditions in the residence, this must be explicitly stated.
Wait for the preliminary evaluation. If the application is initially deemed eligible, the City Council will inform you of its receipt and assign a waiting list number.
Attend the appointment when required. The city will request the necessary documents to verify eligibility and determine the repairs.
The Department of Housing indicates that applicants who are preliminarily deemed eligible may receive a confirmation letter approximately within the first week following the application.
That notice does not constitute final approval of the work nor does it guarantee immediate availability of funding.
Where can I request the form and check the waiting list?
Owners can use the following official channels:
Phone to request information: 305-416-2080.
Email to request the rehabilitation form: SFRPapplication@miamigov.com.
Waiting list position inquiry: 305-416-2149.
In-person attention: Miami Riverside Center, 444 SW 2nd Avenue, Miami, FL 33130.
The financing notice indicates that the forms can be picked up on the third floor, Monday through Friday between 8:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. Inquiries for the department are also handled on the ninth floor.
The official information about the program is available on the Miami city housing portal.
Before traveling, it is advisable to call to confirm the schedules, the availability of forms, and the status of funds, as financing is granted on a limited basis.
It's not the same as the assistance from Miami-Dade to pay the mortgage
There are various housing assistance programs in South Florida, but not all of them have the same objectives.
For example, CiberCuba recently reported that Miami-Dade offers up to $3,500 to homeowners to address mortgages, insurance, association fees, and overdue bills.
That mortgage relief program belongs to the county and has different conditions from the housing rehabilitation program of the city of Miami.
It should not be confused with My Safe Florida Home, the state program that offers up to $10,000 to strengthen homes against hurricanes.
In the case of SHIP, the main objective is to assist homeowners with limited income in preserving their homes through necessary repairs to keep them in proper condition.
What you should know before submitting the application
The call for fiscal year 2026-2027 opened on September 14, but the City Council warns that applications are subject to the availability of funds and existing waiting lists.
There is no guarantee of receiving the $150,000 nor of obtaining immediate approval. The amount depends on the application, the necessary repairs, and the municipal assessment.
The official information consulted does not allow us to confirm how many funds remain available specifically for ordinary rehabilitation as of October 8, 2026.
For this reason, interested parties should contact the Miami Housing Department directly, request updated information, and verify the terms of the program before making any financial commitments or starting any construction work.
For families who have been living for years in deteriorated properties and lack the financial capacity to undertake major repairs, this assistance can represent an opportunity to improve the safety of their home, as long as they meet the requirements and funding is available.
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