On June 1, 2022, the State of Florida officially launched the Florida Hometown Heroes Housing Program to help Floridians in over 50 critical professions purchase their first home. The Hometown Heroes Housing Program will be available to Floridians, including law enforcement officers, firefighters, educators, healthcare professionals, childcare employees, and active military or veterans. The program is administered by the Florida Housing and Finance Corporation. It has the highest and most inclusive eligibility of all Florida Housing down payment assistance programs. The program is geared to expanding on Florida’s existing housing programs to reach critical workers and those who have served our country.
This year, the Florida Housing and Finance Corporation received $100 million from the state Legislature to establish and administer the Florida Hometown Heroes Housing Program. The program will aid essential community workers in 50 different eligible professions with down payment and closing cost assistance to help first-time, income-qualified homebuyers purchase a primary residence in the communities they serve. Funds will be available to reserve starting June 1, which coincides with National Homeownership Month. This occasion celebrates the value that comes with owning a home brings to families, communities, and neighborhoods.
To qualify for this program, home buyers must connect with a participating loan officer, have a minimum credit score of 640, provide certification for one of the eligible occupations, and meet the income threshold for their county. Eligible borrowers will receive up to 5% of the first mortgage loan amount (up to a maximum of $25,000) in down payment and closing cost assistance in the form of a 0%, non-amortizing, 30-year deferred second mortgage. For more information, please visit www.floridahousing.org/hometownheroes.