The Lee Board of County Commissioners voted Tuesday to award nearly $5.4 million in State Housing Initiatives Partnership grant agreements to local partners for affordable housing. The grants will provide assistance to 48 very low and 49 low-income households, including 53 households that include individuals with special needs.

The solely state-funded SHIP program prioritizes serving very low, low and special needs households and requires 65% of the funds be spent on homeownership activities.

The grants included $2,222,188 to Habitat for Humanity of Lee and Hendry Counties for down payment assistance for 32 households, which includes nine very-low and 23 low-income households. At least eight of the households include individuals with special needs.

Lee County Housing Development Corp. was awarded $255,000 for the construction of three single-family houses for one very low and two low-income households, all three of which include people with special needs, and $385,000 for down payment assistance for 10 households, which includes five very low and five low-income households. At least four of the households include people with special needs. LCHDC also will receive $750,000 for owner-occupied rehab for 10 households, which includes five very low and five low-income households, with all 10 households including individuals with special needs, and $1,115,540 for rental new construction for 12 very low and 12 low-income households with at least 12 of the households including individuals with special needs.

Affordable Homeownership Foundation was awarded $300,000 for rental new construction for two very low and two low-income households, with at least two households including individuals with special needs.

Goodwill Industries of Southwest Florida will receive $380,628 for the rental rehabilitation of 14 units at Jean Devereaux Apartment for 14 very low-income households with all 14 households including individuals with special needs.