Home for Our Heroes

Florida Hometown Heroes Housing Program

The Hometown Heroes (HTH) Housing Program makes housing affordable for eligible frontline workers — including teachers, healthcare providers, law enforcement, firefighters, military personnel, and many more — by providing down payment and closing cost assistance to qualified homebuyers. The program also offers a lower first mortgage rate and additional special benefits.

Down Payment Assistance

• 5% of the total loan amount, capped at $25,000 — any excess can be used to reduce the loan-to-value ratio
• 30-year term, 0% interest, non-amortizing, with no monthly payments
• Repayable when the borrower sells, refinances, transfers the deed, or no longer uses the home as their primary residence

Eligibility Requirements

In general, applicants must be first-time homebuyers (no ownership interest in a primary residence in the prior three years), meet income limits set by Florida Housing (caps generally range from about $118,950 to $146,250 depending on county), and have a middle FICO score of at least 640. Sworn law enforcement officers, veterans, active-duty military, and surviving spouses do not have to be first-time homebuyers to participate.

Eligible Occupations Include

Workers in more than 50 professions deemed key to the state of Florida can get help with the down payment for their first home, including:

• Active Military Personnel & Veterans
• Sworn Law Enforcement Officer
• Firefighter
• Certified Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) & Paramedic
• 911 Public Safety Communicator
• Registered Nurse (RN) & Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN)
• Physician, Physician Assistant & Dentist
• Classroom Teacher & School Counselor
• Social Worker & Mental Health Counselor
• Physical, Occupational & Respiratory Therapists
• Childcare Instructor & Licensed Childcare Operator
• Correctional & Probation Officers
• And many more — contact us to check your occupation