Ocala to Consider Manufactured Housing Aid Plan
The City Council will weigh amending its housing plan to add assistance for mobile home residents after a state law change.
Updated on Nov. 12, 2026 in Residential
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Should Ocala expand housing assistance to include mobile home residents?
Ocala City Council will consider amending its Local Housing Assistance Plan on Tuesday, Nov. 17, to add manufactured housing assistance. The change follows Senate Bill 594, which repealed a statewide cap limiting municipalities to spending no more than 20% of State Housing Initiatives Partnership (SHIP) funds on manufactured housing.
Why it matters
Ocala's current three-year housing plan, approved April 15, 2025, excludes mobile homes from core programs. Local governments must update their plans to include manufactured housing programs for fiscal year 2026-27 to remain eligible for future state SHIP grant allocations.
The proposed amendment would provide up to $15,000 in forgivable repair loans, $10,000 in relocation grants and $5,000 in lot rent grants, with repair loans forgiven after five years of primary residence occupancy. Applications would be processed first-qualified, first-served, with statutory priority for households with special needs.
The players
Ocala City Council
The elected governing body of Ocala, Florida, responsible for adopting the city's local housing assistance plan and its amendments.
Ron DeSantis
The Governor of Florida, who signed Senate Bill 594 into law, repealing the statewide cap on SHIP funds for manufactured housing.
The details
The amended plan establishes a Manufactured Housing strategy for low-income residents living in mobile homes built after June 1994. Ocala's Community Housing Services Department prepared the amendment, which follows Gov. Ron DeSantis's signing of Senate Bill 594 on June 26, 2025, with the law taking effect July 1.
Timeline
April 15, 2025: Council approved the current three-year housing plan excluding mobile homes.
June 26, 2025: Gov. DeSantis signed Senate Bill 594 into law.
July 1, 2025: Senate Bill 594 took effect.
November 17, 2026: Council will consider the amended Local Housing Assistance Plan during its regular meeting.
Roadmap
Senate Bill 594 removed the statewide 20% ceiling on SHIP funds for manufactured housing, opening a path for cities like Ocala to direct more aid toward mobile home residents. Ocala's proposal is one of the local responses this repeal makes possible.
Low-income residents of mobile homes built after June 1994 could qualify for repair loans, relocation grants and lot rent assistance if the amendment is approved. Residents facing a mobile home park closure could receive up to $10,000 to relocate.
The takeaway
Homeowners of older mobile homes in Ocala should watch the November 17 council meeting, since the proposed grants could help with repairs, relocation or lot rent if the amendment passes.
What happens next
Ocala City Council will consider the resolution to amend the Local Housing Assistance Plan during its regular meeting on Tuesday, Nov. 17, 2026.
Further reading
For more on local home ownership programs, see Residential coverage across the Ocala area.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Ocala-News.
Live Poll
Should Ocala expand housing assistance to include mobile home residents?
