County commission approves assistance for seafood workers behind on their SHIP payments

            Seafood workers who are behind in their mortgage payments to the SHIP program will soon see a little relief.

SHIP stands for the State Housing Initiatives Partnership program, which provides funds to local governments to help low and moderate income residents purchase or maintain their homes.

A number of local residents have benefited through the program, but because of the oyster fishery failure, many seafood workers are now struggling to make their payments to the program.

On Tuesday the county commission agreed to shift 60 thousand dollars from the county’s emergency fund for hurricanes to help make delinquent mortgage payments current for seafood workers who can demonstrate that their income has been substantially reduced due to the Bay Fisheries Failure.

The assistance could help 30 or more people depending on the amount each applicant needs.

The assistance would not have to be repaid.

The SHIP program will be providing more information in the near future as to how eligible seafood workers can apply for the assistance.

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