Grants are available to help law enforcement officials buy a home.
Breaking into the housing market can be difficult. Even law enforcement officials can have trouble buying a home. However, there is help. There are some grants specifically created to get law enforcement officials in a home. These grants are beneficial to both police officers and local governments. The goal is to raise struggling neighborhoods while helping officers secure a home in these locations.
Good Neighbor Next Door
The most popular federal housing grant for law enforcement is the Good Neighbor Next Door program. The program is open to anyone in law enforcement, as well as firefighters, EMTs and teachers in pre-kindergarten through 12th grade. The purpose of the grant is to help civil servants get a home and help neighborhoods in need of revitalization. By putting a police officer or other "good neighbor" in one of these neighborhoods, the theory is these neighborhoods will start to turn around and thrive.
The program is available through the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). HUD will provide subsidies up to 50 percent as long as the law enforcement officer agrees to use the home as a sole residence for at least 36 months. The homes must be designated by HUD as a home in an area that is in need of revitalization. Interested applicants can go to the HUD website and find these homes by state. Applicants can also find information on apply for the grants at the HUD website.
U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development
451 7th Street S.W.
Washington, DC 20410
202-708-1112
hud.gov
Chicago Housing Grant
While the Good Neighbor Next Door is a federal program, many law enforcement home grants are available at the local level. The City of Chicago offers a grant much like the Good Neighbor Next Door program. Law enforcement officers, as well as firefighters and paramedics can receive $3,000 toward the downpayment and closing costs for a home in Chicago. However, law enforcement officials can receive $7,500 if they choose to live in a home designated by the Chicago Housing Authority as being a Chicago Housing Authority (CHA) Redevelopment Property. The CHA Redevelopment Property program aims to revitalize and rehabilitate public housing properties.
Prospective applicants can learn apply for the grant by going to the City of Chicago website. They can also find a list of program requirements. For example, the applicant must reside in the city of Chicago and live in an area where at least 50 percent of the residents earn below 80 percent of the area's median income. They must also use the home as their primary residence for five years.
Chicago Housing Authority
60 E. Van Buren
Chicago, IL 60605
312-742-8500
thecha.org
Alexandria, Virginia
To help low-income police officers get in a home, the City of Alexandria, Virginia established the Law Enforcement Moderate Income Homeownership program. Officers must live in the Alexandria and their income must be between the federal Section Eight low-income level and the level established by the city.
If eligible, the applicant can get a second loan through the program up to $50,000. This money can go toward the downpayment of a single-family home, condo or coop.
Alexandria City Hall
301 King St.
Alexandria, VA 22314
703-746-4000
