HOME Program — HOME Investment Partnerships
The largest federal block grant program dedicated to creating affordable housing for low-income households.
Official source: hud.gov
The HOME Program is the biggest helper from the government to make sure people with lower incomes can find good homes. It's like a big pot of money that local cities and counties use to offer different kinds of housing help.This program helps families who need to rent a home, people who want to buy their first home but need help with the down payment, and even homeowners who need to fix up their house. To get help, your family's income usually needs to be at or below 80% of what most other families in your area earn.If you think you might qualify, you need to get in touch with your local city or county housing office. They are called Participating Jurisdictions, or PJs for short. They are the ones who decide how to use the HOME money in your specific area and can tell you how to apply. A common thing to know is that because every local area gets to decide how they use the money, the exact type of help and rules can be a little different from one place to another. You'll need to ask your local PJ for the details. See also: <a href="/glossary/usda-rural-housing">USDA Rural Housing Loan</a>.
In real life
- A family uses this program to help buy their first home. They could not afford a home otherwise.
- Someone gets help from this program to fix up their apartment building. This makes the rents lower for people with less money.
- A city uses money from this program to build new, affordable homes for its residents.
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Frequently asked questions about HOME Program
What is HOME Program?+
The largest federal block grant program dedicated to creating affordable housing for low-income households, providing funds to states and localities to build, buy, or rehabilitate rental housing and assist first-time homebuyers. HOME funds rental assistance, homebuyer down-payment help, and rehabilitation loans.
Who qualifies for HOME Program?+
Households with income at or below local limits set by HUD; priority often goes to seniors, people with disabilities, and families with children.
How do I apply for HOME Program?+
Contact your local Public Housing Agency to get on the waiting list. Find yours at hud.gov.
Where can I get help?+
Contact your local Public Housing Agency for Section 8, public housing, and LIHEAP. BenefitKarma's Find Benefits tool lists housing programs for your state.
Source: hud.gov