Florida housing program for essential workers launches June 1

FLORIDA — The Florida Hometown Heroes Housing Program, which helps Floridians in over 50 critical professions purchase their first home, launches on June 1.

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.

Florida Housing received $100 million from the state Legislature this year 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, said the governor’s office.

To qualify for this program, homebuyers 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.

The program is administered by the Florida Housing and Finance Corporation (Florida Housing) and has the highest and most inclusive eligibility of all Florida Housing down payment assistance programs, the governor’s office said.

The program is geared to expanding on Florida’s existing housing programs to reach critical workers and those who have served our country.

For more information, please visit www.floridahousing.org/hometownheroes.