Assistance Programs
Heroes Receive a Hand: Up to $35,000 for Front-Line Homebuyers
Hometown Heroes can help qualifying homebuyers with down payment and closing costs through a deferred second mortgage. Ask a participating lender to confirm current eligibility and funding.
Read current Hometown Heroes terms (opens in a new tab)The benefit
Reduce the upfront hurdle to buying a primary home.
- Subject to funding and eligibility
- Up to $35,000
- Deferred second mortgage
- 0% interest
- Repayment triggers apply
- Not forgivable
Provided by
Florida Housing sets program terms. Participating loan officers review the buyer, mortgage, occupation and available assistance funding.
How to get it
Check the current program with a participating lender
- Review Florida Housing's current occupation, income, loan and homebuyer requirements.
- Use its lender locator to speak with a participating loan officer and confirm assistance funding is available.
- Ask the lender to explain the first mortgage, second mortgage and repayment triggers before proceeding.
The August 2025 story covers an earlier funding cycle. Florida Housing reported all 2025–2026 funding committed; verify current availability with a lender. Assistance is a non-forgivable loan, due upon specified events such as sale, refinancing or leaving the primary residence.
More context & the original report
In August 2025, Florida announced the return of the Hometown Heroes Housing program, which offers up to $35,000 in assistance to full-time essential workers such as nurses, teachers, police officers and firefighters. The program, funded with $50 million in state money, provides a deferred second mortgage with no monthly payments, helping frontline workers overcome the down-payment hurdle.
