Politics & Government
New Program Eases Home Ownership for Public Employees
St. Louis County now offers low-interest loans for police, firefighters, teachers, active military personnel, veterans, nurses, and emergency medical technicians.
Ensuring those who serve communities can live there, too, is the goal of a new program announced by St. Louis County’s Office of Community Development. The Hometown Heroes Homeownership Program offers up to $7,500 in down payment and closing cost assistance to approved public employees for the purchase of homes in St. Louis County.
Eligible professions for the new program include firefighters, police officers, active military personnel, veterans, primary and secondary teachers, nurses, and emergency medical technicians (EMTs), “whose professions strengthen the communities in which they live,” according to a news release from St. Louis County.
“I think programs that keep first responders in the community they work is beneficial,” said EMT Scott Barthelmass, public information officer for the . “It engages them in the community they serve and builds great partnerships between our public service organizations and those they serve.”
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Under the program, eligible homebuyers can receive up to $7,500 in 0-percent interest, five-year forgivable loans for down payment and closing cost assistance. Buyers also can combine this program with funds from other programs.
To qualify, public employees must purchase a pre-approved home listed with the Neighborhood Stabilization Rehab Program (NSP), NSP Homebuyer Purchase Program, or the HOME Investment Partnership Program.
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Properties involved include both single-family houses and villas. For full details, call loan specialist Katrina Sommer at the St. Louis County Office of Community Development, (314) 615-2983.
“It is sometimes difficult to get information to all public service personnel with their varying schedules and work locations,” Barthelmass said. “A good effort is made, though.”
St. Louis County staffers will kick off the Hometown Heroes Homeownership Program by hosting an open house regarding all of the included properties from noon to 3 p.m. on Aug. 14.