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Community and Internet Resources

Housing: Home Ownership
Financial Assistance

National

Ameridream Charity, Inc. is a non-profit organization that grants low to moderate-income individuals with up to 5 percent of a home's purchase price for down payment. To be eligible for the program buyers must buy a home that is enrolled in the Ameridream program by a seller or builder and must qualify for a loan that allows gift funds. For more information, call (866) 263-7437 or e-mail info@ameridream.org.

New Sign Habitat for Humanity International builds affordable housing for low-income families. Houses are sold at no profit, with no interest charged on the mortgage. Homeowners are responsible for making a down payment and monthly mortgage payments. In exchange for their Habitat house, homeowners must invest several hundred hours of their own labor -- sweat equity -- into building their Habitat house and the houses of others. To learn more about your local program, contact your local Habitat Affiliate.

HomeChoice is a program of FannieMae offering single-family mortgage loans to low- or moderate-income people who have disabilities or have family members with disabilities living with them. The program provides 15 and 30 year mortgages often requiring only a 3% down payment. For more information visit FannieMae online.

Newsong Down Payment Assistance Program is a non-profit organization offering grants for home down payments. Home buyers must obtain financing through an eligible loan program and must purchase a home where the seller agrees to participate. Visit their website for more information.

Partners in Charity is a non-profit organization dedicated to helping individuals become homeowners through gifting down payments to qualified buyers. Assistance is offered to all types of homebuyers, not just first-time buyers. Funds received for assistance need not be repaid. For more information or to learn of eligibility requirements, call (800) 705-8350.

Rebuilding Together is a non-profit organization with affiliates throughout the United States with a mission to "preserve and revitalize houses and communities, assuring that low-income homeowners, particularly those who are elderly and disabled and families with children, live in warmth, safety, and independence." They achieve this mission by making repairs to homes of low-income individuals. All repairs are free to the homeowner. Eligible homeowners must be low-income and elderly, disabled, or families with children, and unable to do the work themselves. Homeowners in need of home repairs should contact their local affiliate. To locate an affiliate, visit the Rebuilding Together website.

U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development offers Homeownership Vouchers to assist eligible, first-time homeowners with their monthly homeownership expenses. Monthly homeownership expenses may include mortgage principal and interest, mortgage insurance premium, real estate taxes and homeowner insurance, Public Housing Agency (PHA) allowance for utilities, PHA allowance for routine maintenance costs, PHA allowance for major repairs and replacements, principal and interest on debt to finance major repairs and replacements for the home, and principal and interest on debt to finance costs to make the home accessible for a family member with disabilities if the PHA determines it is needed as a reasonable accommodation. To learn of your local eligibility requirements contact your local Public Housing Agency.

Washington Mutual offers Down Payment and Mortgage Assistance Programs that create home ownership opportunities for many families that would not otherwise be eligible for traditional mortgages. Programs include, Deferred Payment or Low Interest Loans, Silent or Soft Second Mortgages as well as, Shared Appreciation Mortgages. They also offer low down payment options. For more information, call (866) 926-8937.

Regional Listings

Pacific States Region

Federal Home Loan Bank of Seattle in partnership with several lenders in Alaska, Hawaii, Oregon and Washington State, offers the HomeStart Savings Program (HSP). The HSP is designed to help low-income families accumulate funds for downpayment and closing costs by matching every $1 saved with $3, up to a maximum of $3,000 to $5,000 toward the purchase of a first home. Prospective homebuyers must be a first-time homebuyer and earn less than 80 percent of HUD's area median income in their community, adjusted for family size, complete a homebuyer education course, and qualify for a mortgage by the time the grant is awarded, and purchase a home within two years of enrolling in the Home$tart Savings Program. For more information or to locate a lender near you, call (206) 340-8743 or visit their website.

Rocky Mountain States Region

Federal Home Loan Bank of Seattle in partnership with several lenders in Idaho, Montana, Utah and Wyoming, offers the HomeStart Savings Program (HSP). The HSP is designed to help low-income families accumulate funds for downpayment and closing costs by matching every $1 saved with $3, up to a maximum of $3,000 to $5,000 toward the purchase of a first home. Prospective homebuyers must be a first-time homebuyer and earn less than 80 percent of HUD's area median income in their community (adjusted for family size), complete a homebuyer education course, qualify for a mortgage by the time the grant is awarded, and purchase a home within two years of enrolling in the Home$tart Savings Program. For more information or to locate a lender near you, call (206) 340-8743 or visit their website.

State Listings

Arizona

Arizona Department of Housing (ADOH) makes resources available for home buying counseling, low interest mortgages, down payment and closing costs to help buyers purchase their first home through a network of non-profit agencies around the state. For more information, call (602) 771-1000 (Voice), (602) 771-1001 (TTY) or visit their Homeownership Assistance Webpage.

California

Agape Economic Development, Inc. is non-profit organization that provides down-payment assistance to eligible homebuyers. Assistance is offered in the form of a gift that need not be repaid. Assistance may be limited to five percent of the contract price and is subject to the availability of funds and seller participation. Furthermore, homebuyers must pay at least 1 percent of the home's sale price out of pocket and must qualify for an eligible loan program. For more information, call (562) 924-9655 or e-mail info@homeloanassistance.com.

CalHome Mortgage Assistance Program is designed to provide financial help to low-income homebuyers on home purchases in eligible areas of California. The program funds, offered as a deferred interest and payment loan, may be used to reduce the amount of the first mortgage. The loan is due upon sale or transfer of the property, when the property ceases to be owner-occupied, upon the loan maturity date, or upon repayment or refinancing of the first mortgage. To locate a participating agency, contact California Housing and Community Development at (916) 324-7696.

Oakland Homeownership Assistance Alliance offers a range of special programs designed to meet the needs of home buyers in Oakland. Programs include reduced and zero downpayment mortgages, debt management and lease to own options, among others. To find out more about how you can take advantage of these programs, call the Home Buyer Assistance Center at (888) 832-0909 or e-mail info@hbac.org.

San Diego Housing Commission offers a first-time homebuyer program, down payment assistance and mortgage assistance. For more information, call (619) 231-9400 or e-mail Sdhcinfo@sdhc.org.

Colorado

Colorado Housing Assistance Corporation is a non-profit organization offering education on home ownership as well as direct assistance. To learn how they can assist you purchase a home call, (303) 572-9445 or e-mail colohac@aol.com.

Colorado Housing and Finance Authority offers several homebuyer assistance programs to low and medium income individuals and families. One such program, HomeStart, is a first-mortgage financing program for eligible Colorado home buyers that offers a competitive interest rate loan and cash assistance to help pay down payment and closing expenses. Income limits and purchase price limits apply, and borrowers must first complete a homebuyer education class. For more information, call (800) 877-2432, ext. 376 or (303) 297-7305 (TDD).

Thistle Community Housing, located in Boulder, Colorado, offers a unique homeownership program called the Community Land Trust (CLT). By acquiring and building affordable homes and limiting resale prices, Thistle is able to offer CLT homes at below market sales prices. Thistle owns the land, and qualified families buy the homes. Thistle and the homebuyer signs a 99 year renewable Land Lease. Thistle works with the financial community to ensure that buyers have access to financing and downpayment assistance. Presently, there are 72 CLT homes owned by qualified home buyers; availability depends on resale by the current owners. Potential buyers must meet income, asset and occupancy guidelines and all other Thistle CLT qualifying criteria. The current maximum annual income is 80% of the Area Median Income. For more information, call (303) 443-0007 or e-mail info@thistlehousing.org.

Florida

Florida Housing Finance Corporation offers financial assistance to families and individuals in need of housing. They offer rental assistance for homes and apartments, home-buying programs and grants and several other special assistance programs. For more information, call (850) 488-4197.

Central Florida Community Action Agency administers the State Housing Initiative Program (SHIP), a program designed to help low-income individuals with the barriers to and trials of home ownership. CFCAA screens applicants and refers them to city, local or municipal SHIP programs. Participants who are eligible for the SHIP program get assistance with first time home ownership, homeowners education, rehabilitation and home repairs. CFCAA also oversees the Gainesville, Florida HOME program for first-time homebuyers. This program offers home ownership assistance to low-income individuals by helping individuals become credit-ready, compete for mortgage assistance, and locate existing homes or build new ones. For more information, call (800) 732-3018 or e-mail info@cfcaa.org.

Illinois

Illinois Homeownership Coalition for People with Disabilities identifies and assists all people, regardless of their disability, in purchasing their own home. Services include needs evaluation and counseling, home buyer education, the Home Buyers’ Club for longer term assistance, realtor assistance in home selection process, down payment and closing cost assistance, a variety of loan options, Fannie Mae’s HomeChoice Program, grants and low interest loans for home modifications and post-purchase peer group and individual counseling. For more information, contact the coalition at (217) 523-2587 (Voice/TTY).

Maryland

Baltimore County Office of Community Conservation offers Homeownership Assistance to qualified low-income Baltimore County residents. Their Settlement Expense Loan Program is the agency's primary vehicle for promoting homeownership. The SELP program provides loans of up to $5,000 to cover closing costs to income-qualified, first-time homebuyers. The purchasing household can earn no more than 80 percent of the county median family income. For a four-person household, that means no more than $49,350 annually. To apply for assistance, call (410) 887-3124. To learn more about other Maryland home ownership and home improvement initiatives, click here.

Maryland Center for Community Development, via their Homeownership for Individuals with Disabilities Program, assists people with all types of disabilities in acquiring low interest, flexible mortgages. Assistance may also include grants and soft second mortgages to assist borrowers with the down payment and closing costs, access modifications, and property repairs and maintenance. For more information, call (888) 949-6677.

Massachusetts

Citizens Housing and Planning Association offers the Massachusetts Home of Your Own Program, which provides financial and informational assistance to low-income people with disabilities who are first-time homebuyers in Massachusetts. The Selection Committee for the Home of Your Own Program selects applicants with a variety of disabilities from across the state to receive one-on-one homebuyer counseling and approximately $7,500 in down payment and/or closing cost assistance. Household income must be at or below 80% of HUD's Area Median Income. Applicants must have at least $500 of their own funds to contribute to their down payment. For more information, call (800) 466-3111.

Minnesota

Minnesota Housing Finance Agency offers a Homeownership Assistance Fund (HAF). HAF offers assistance to low to moderate income first time homebuyers participating in an MHFA program to purchase a home by providing zero interest, deferred loans up to $3,000 to help with down payment and closing costs. The program also offers monthly payment assistance of up to $60 per month to help pay a portion of the monthly mortgage payment and an equity contribution loan that may provide up to $10,000 or 10% of the purchase price for borrowers who qualify through the MHFA Community Activity Set Aside (CASA) program. For more information, call the MHFA Consumer Information Line at (651) 296-8215 or (800) 710-8871.

Mississippi

Mississippi Home Corporation was created by the Mississippi Home Corporation act of 1989 to address the housing needs of low to moderate income Mississippians. They provide several home-buying assistance programs, including the Home Of Your Own Project which assists people with disabilities and their families in locating counseling, supports, and financial assistance which may allow them to purchase and maintain their own homes. They also offer several educational tools and homebuying workshops. For more information, call (601) 718-4636 or e-mail emailus@mshc.com.

Missourri

Adequate Housing for Missourians has a mission to meet the needs of the St. Louis areas lowest income (0-50% of the area median income, currently $47,100 for a family of four) families for adequate, safe, affordable and accessible housing. They offer rent assistance via thier Rent Assistance Loan Fund (RALF). This fund provides interest-free loans for a security deposit when families are moving into public housing or Section 8. Loans can either be repaid in cash or by completing community service. For more information, call (314) 863-0015 or e-mail AHMforMO@aol.com.

New Sign Missouri Housing Development Commission (MHDC), via their "First Place" loan program, offers first-time homebuyers affordable, below market mortgage interest rates as well as a 4% cash assistance grant that can cover down payment and closing costs. Visit the MHDC website for more information.

Montanna

Montana Department of Commerce Board of Housing offers the Disabled Accessible Affordable Homeownership Program, which assists persons with disabilities acquire affordable, architecturally accessible homes. An eligible homebuyer, spouse, child or parent must have a permanent physical disability with a mobility impairment, an annual income not exceeding $30,000 or total family assets exceeding $50,000, and, be a first time homebuyer or have a home which was purchased prior to the disability and is no longer accessible to their needs. Mortgage interest rates vary from 2.75% to 6.5%, depending on the buyers annual income. For more information, call (406) 841-2840.

Nevada

Community Services Agency and Development Corporation, serving Northern Nevada, offers a First Time Homebuyer Program. The program offers downpayment and/or closing cost assistance to first time homebuyers with a limited income. Total combined assistance is in the form of a second loan limited to $5,000 or 4% of the purchase of the home, whichever is less. The downpayment assistance is due when the property ceases to be the owner's primary residence or upon sale of the house or transfer of title. The property must be located in Washoe County and must not exceed $149,000 in value. For more information, call CSA at (775) 786-6023.

New York

Community Housing Innovations, Inc. is a non-profit organization offering homeownership assistance in Long Island and Westchester Counties in New York. Their program offers free counseling and up to $25,000 in down payment assistance for the purchase of a home. There are maximum household income and other requirements. For more information, contact the Long Island office at (631) 475-6390 or the Westchester office at (914) 683-1010 ext. 35.

Snow Belt Housing Company, Inc. is a non-profit organization dedicated to seeing that all Lewis County, New York residents are able to afford a safe and decent place to live. They offer a number of assistance programs, including a home ownership assistance program, which awards grants to individuals for down payment on a home. They also offer low-interest home repair loans and home improvement grants. Income limits do apply. For more information, call (315) 376-2639 (Voice) or 800-662-1220 (TDD).

Oklahoma

Oklahoma Housing Finance Agency works with participating mortgage lenders statewide to provide 30-year fixed-rate low-interest home loans through OHFA Advantage (state bond money). Interest rates are below market rate loans. The most popular type of loan offers four percent down payment and closing cost assistance. OHFA also offers new construction loans. To locate a participating lender, visit the agency website or call (800) 256-1489 (Voice), (405) 848-7471 (TDD).

Oregon

Portland Housing Center is an educational resource center for renters, landlords, homebuyers and homeowners. They offer several programs to assist individuals with home ownership, including low downpayment loans and low interest loans. For more information, call (503) 282-7744.

Pennsylvania

The Pennsylvania Housing Finance Agency (PHFA), offers the Homeowners Emergency Assistance Program, which provides mortgage assistance to homeowners who are in danger of losing their homes through foreclosure and through no fault of their own and who have a reasonable prospect of resuming mortgage payments within a given time frame. Applications are accepted at Housing Counseling Agencies throughout the state of Pennsylvania. For more information on any of the programs described above, call (800) 342-2397 or visit the PHFA website.

The agency also offers specific programs for people with disabilities:

Access Down Payment and Closing Cost Assistance Program provides mortgage loans to assist persons with disabilities or family member(s) living in the household who are purchasing homes and need down payment and closing cost assistance. This program provides a deferred payment loan, with no interest. The loan becomes due and payable upon sale, transfer, refinance, payoff of the first mortgage or non-owner occupancy of the property. For more information call the Single Family Programs Division at (800) 822-1174.

Access Home Modification Program provides homebuyers no-interest accessibility improvement loans between $1,000 and $10,000 in conjunction with a first mortgage administered by PHFA. Repayment requirements are similar to the Closing Cost Assistance Program. For more information, call the Single Family Programs Division at (800) 822-1174.

Texas

Texas Home of Your Own Coalition (HOYO) is committed to making homeownership a reality for Texans with disabilities. HOYO assists with down payments, mortgages and modifications to make homes accessible. For more information, call (800) 988-4696 or e-mail ucptx@onr.com.

Virginia

Virginia Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD) in partnership with the Virginia Housing Development Authority (VHDA) offers the Single Family Regional Loan Fund (SFRLF). The SFRLF was developed to provide a comprehensive home ownership assistance program for low-income, first-time homebuyers across the state of Virginia. The SFRLF combines primary mortgage resources with down payment and closing cost assistance. For more information e-mail HFUNIT@dhcd.state.va.us.

Washington

Washington State Housing Finance Commission offers numerous homeownership programs. Homebuyers must complete a Homebuyer Education Seminar to participate in their programs. To learn more about the various programs available, call (800) 767-4663.

Washington State's HomeChoice Program offers down-payment assistance to low and moderate income people with disabilities who are interested in purchasing a home. Assistance is received in the form a low-interest loan which must be repaid in full when the home is sold. To find a HomeChoice Service Provider in your area, visit the link provided above. For more information, e-mail bpeterso@wshfc.org.

Wisconsin

Down Payment Plus, the Federal Home Loan Bank of Chicago's (FHLBC) Affordable Housing Program, offers eligible first-time Wisconsin home buyers grants of up to $ 3,500 toward a down payment, closing costs, reserves or other expenses related to home purchase. Wisconsin Partnership for Housing Development (WPHD) oversees this program. For more information, call the WPHD Madison office at (608) 258-5560 or the Milwaukee office at (414) 223-2740.

EBTIDE offers a Homebuyer Grant Program for Homebuyers with disabilities or for those who have a disabled family member. Grants are awarded in the amount of $7500 to be used for down payment, closing costs, and / or home modifications. The grant is forgiven if the home is not sold within the first five years of purchase. To be eligible for this program, family income must not exceed 60% of the county median income. For more information, call (888) 838-9021.

IndependenceFirst, in collaboration with EBTIDE, Fannie Mae and local lenders, assists people with disabilities and/or families that include a person with a disabiltiy become homeowners. They assist individuals secure funding for the purchase of a home from a variety of grant and forgivable loan sources. They also offer credit management counseling, first time home buying classes and homeowner education. For more information, call (414) 291-7520 (Voice/TTY).

Milwaukee County Home Repair Loan Program offers low interest and zero interest loans to owner occupied, low income households for home repairs. Nearly all home repairs qualify. There are no application fees, pre-payment penalties or any hidden costs. Additionally, qualifying elderly and low-income households may also be eligible for a deferred loan, which does not require loan payment until the home is sold. The maximum qualifying income based upon household size follows: 1-$37,650, 2-$43,000, 3-$48,400, 4-$53,750, 5-$58,050, 6-$62,350. If you are interested in applying for this program, call (414) 278-4917.

Milwaukee County Housing and Community Development offers the Milwaukee County Suburban First-time Homebuyer's Program. This program offers eligible, first-time homebuyers with a $1,000 to $5,000 forgivable loan. This loan does not need to be repaid as long as the home is not sold within five years of purchase. This program can also be used with VA, FHA, or WHEDA mortgages. For more information, call (414) 278-5251.

NeighborWorks Milwaukee-NHS is a non-profit, community-based corporation working to stabilize and revitalize neighborhoods. They offer a Home Ownership Program that offers flexible loans to anyone interested in purchasing a home in a NeighborWorks neighborhood. For existing home owners, they also offer a Home Repair and Improvements Program which assists home owners in obtaining the money to fix up their homes. NHS can identify grants, rebates, and loans for home improvement. They also offer free exterior house paint. For more information, call NHS at (414) 449-9914.

Wisconsin Housing and Economic Development Authority (WHEDA) offers homebuying assistance to low-income residents of Wisconsin who are also first-time homebuyers. They not only offer flexible home mortgages but also offer loans for closing costs. For more information, call (800) 334-6873 (Voice) or (800) 943-9430 (TTY).

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