San Juan County will award grants and loans totaling up to $23,197 in 2012 for projects that help make housing available to local residents of very low income.

The Low Income Housing Fund, created by the state legislature in 2002, is funded by a surcharge on each document recorded by the county auditor’s office. Funds may be used for construction, operation or maintenance projects that serve families or individuals earning less than 50 percent of the area median income.

For a family of four, 50 percent of median income in San Juan County is $32,900.

Funding is available to non-profits and developers, either as grants or loans, for eligible projects in San Juan County. Funding is not available for individual home purchases, or home remodel or rehabilitation.

The county allocates 5 percent of its low-income housing funds directly to the Town of Friday Harbor and 5 percent into a reserve account as well. The fund is administered by the county Housing Bank Commission.

The deadline to apply for funding in 2012 is Feb. 15. Application forms are available at the county website: http://sanjuanco.com/docs/news/2060FundsApplication-2012.pdf

Or contact Melanie Rollins, affordable housing coordinator, for application forms or more information; (360) 370-7526 or email melanier@sanjuanco.com