In May of 2022, Governor Ron DeSantis (R-FL) announced the Hometown Heroes housing program, designed to help Floridians who have helped serve the state and the nation, buy their first home. The $100 million program is under the direction of the Florida Housing and Finance Corporation (Florida Housing). Going into its second year, the Governor’s Office has announced a record number of applicants.
According to DeSantis's staff, the program is available to Florida law enforcement officers, firefighters, educators, healthcare professionals, childcare employees, and active military or veterans.
Now, the program is announcing that the down payment assistance program has reached $20 million in applications within the first week of the second year. $11 million came on the first day alone.
“In its first year of funding, the Hometown Heroes Program helped more than 6,700 first responders, veterans, nurses, and educators purchase homes in the communities they serve,” said Gov. DeSantis. “Now that the program is expanded, I look forward to serving even more Floridians in the coming year.”
In 2022, the government-backed mortgage company Freddie Mac reported that a 30-year fixed-rate mortgage rose 0.28% in a single week and nearly 2% since April of last year.
“As Americans content with historically high inflation, the combination of rising mortgage rates, elevated home prices and tight inventory are making the pursuit of homeownership the most expensive in a generation,” stated the organization.
The program is available to Hometown Heroes that earn less than 150% of their county’s area median income (AMI) and can receive up to $35,000. They must have a credit score of at least 640 and be a first-time homebuyer.
Last year, the program provided assistance to 6,753 families.
“The Hometown Heroes program has quickly become Florida Housing’s most popular homeownership assistance program,” said Mike DiNapoli, Executive Director of Florida Housing Finance Corporation. “Down payments and closing costs are one of the biggest barriers to homeownership for a lot of families and with these updated guidelines we are already seeing an increase in interest as more hardworking individuals are now eligible for this assistance. We are honored to be entrusted with the resources to administer this program and proud to support Floridians on their path to homeownership.”
Gov. DeSantis will face President Donald Trump (R) in the first Republican primary debate in August, should they both decide to attend.
