San Juan County will award grants and loans totaling up to $23,197 this year for projects that will help make housing available to very low income county residents. The program, created by the state legislature in 2002, is funded by a surcharge on each document recorded by the Auditor’s office.

The funds may be used for building, operating or maintaining projects that serve families or individuals earning less than 50 percent of the area’s median income.  Fifty percent of San Juan County’s current median income is a maximum of $32,900 for a family of four.

The funds are available to both non-profits and developers, either as grants or loans for eligible projects located in San Juan County. Funding is not available for individuals purchasing or rehabbing their own homes.

San Juan County gives 5 percent of funds collected to the Town of Friday Harbor and 5 percent is set aside as a reserve. The funds are administered by the San Juan County Housing Bank Commission.

The deadline for applications is Feb. 15. Forms are at the county website here.