Florida Hometown Heroes Job Eligibility Checklist

Buying a home in Florida just got easier for those who serve their communities.

The Florida Hometown Heroes Loan Program offers up to $35k in down payment and closing cost assistance to eligible workers in healthcare, education, public safety, childcare, and the military.

👉 Check if your job qualifies for Hometown Heroes assistance today.

This guide breaks down the full job eligibility checklist so you can quickly see if you qualify.

What is the Florida Hometown Heroes Program?

The Florida Hometown Heroes Program is a statewide initiative designed to help first-time homebuyers who serve their communities purchase a home.

It provides down payment and closing cost assistance of up to $35,000, offered as a 0% interest, non-amortizing loan that only needs to be repaid when the home is sold, refinanced, or no longer your primary residence.

In addition to financial support, the program features reduced mortgage rates, no origination points from participating lenders, and flexible underwriting guidelines, making homeownership more affordable for those working in essential occupations.

How Job Eligibility Works

To qualify under the Hometown Heroes occupation rules, at least one borrower must:

1. Work full-time (verified by a VOE and paystubs).

2. Be employed by a Florida-based, brick-and-mortar employer.

3. Hold a position in one of the eligible occupational categories below.

👉 If all three apply, you may qualify for Hometown Heroes down payment assistance.

👉 Check if your job qualifies for Hometown Heroes assistance today.

✅ Florida Hometown Heroes Job Eligibility Checklist

1. Healthcare Workers

Healthcare professionals make up one of the largest eligible groups under the Florida Hometown Heroes Program.

To qualify, you must work full-time for a Florida-based hospital, clinic, physician’s office, assisted living facility, mental health facility, or licensed healthcare provider.

Eligible Roles Include:

Nurses

• Registered Nurse (RN)

• Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN)

• Advanced Practice Registered Nurse (APRN)

• Nurse Anesthetist (CRNA)

• Nurse Midwife

• Clinical Nurse Specialist

• Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA)

• Nursing Technician

Medical Technicians

• ER Technician

• Radiology / X-Ray Technician

• Sonographer

• Surgical Technician

• Laboratory Technician (including Phlebotomist)

• Orthopedic Technician

• CT, Cardiology, Neurology, or Nuclear Medicine Technician

• Pharmacy Technician

Therapists

• Physical Therapist

• Occupational Therapist

• Respiratory Therapist

• Speech Therapist

• Audiologist

Mental Health Professionals

• Psychologist / Psychiatrist

• Social Worker

• Case Manager

• Behavioral Health Specialist / Technician / Therapist

• Mental Health Specialist / Technician / Therapist

Doctors, Physicians & Pharmacists

• Physician

• Physician Assistant

• Dentist

• Anesthesiologist / Anesthesiologist Assistant

• Pharmacist / Nuclear Pharmacist

Other Healthcare Roles

• Dental Assistant / Dental Hygienist

• Medical Assistant (MA or CMA)

• Patient Care Assistant

• Patient Transporter (Orderly)

👉 Check if your healthcare job qualifies for Hometown Heroes assistance today.

2. School Staff

Educators and school support staff are eligible for the Florida Hometown Heroes Program if they are employed full-time by a Florida-based K–12 public, private, charter, or magnet school.

(Note: Colleges and universities are not included.)

Eligible Roles Include:

Administrators & Leadership

• Principal

• Assistant Principal

Teachers & Instructional Staff

• Classroom Teacher

• Teacher Aide

• Career Specialist (Guidance Counselor)

Student Support Staff

• School Counselor

• School Psychologist

• Social Worker

• Librarian / Media Specialist

School Operations & Services

• Food Service / Cafeteria Staff

• Maintenance / Custodial / Janitorial Staff

👉 See if your role in a Florida K–12 school makes you eligible now.

3. First Responders

First responders are eligible for the Florida Hometown Heroes Program if they are employed full-time by a Florida-based fire department, ambulance service, or hospital. 

Eligible Roles Include:

• Certified Emergency Medical Technician (EMT)

• Certified Paramedic

• Firefighter

👉 Find out if your first responder position qualifies for down payment help.

4. Public Safety Workers

Public safety professionals qualify for the Florida Hometown Heroes Program if they are employed full-time by a Florida-based local, county, state, or federal law enforcement agency, juvenile detention facility, correctional facility, or emergency operations center. 

Eligible Roles Include:

• 911 Public Safety Communicator (Operator or Dispatcher)

• Correctional Officer

• Correctional Probation Officer

• Juvenile Detention Officer

• Juvenile Probation Officer

• Sworn Law Enforcement Officer (Local, State, or Federal)

👉 Check eligibility for Florida law enforcement and public safety professionals.

5. Court Employees

Court system professionals qualify for the Florida Hometown Heroes Program if they are employed full-time by a Florida-based county, state, or federal court, a court administrator’s office, the State Attorney’s Office, or the Public Defender’s Office. 

Eligible Roles Include:

• Assistant State Attorney

• Assistant Public Defender

• Attorney (if employed by the Florida Supreme Court, District Courts of Appeal, Circuit Courts, or County Courts)

• Court Clerk

• Court Stenographer / Court Reporter (if employed by the Florida Supreme Court, District Courts of Appeal, Circuit Courts, or County Courts)

👉 See if your court system position qualifies for Hometown Heroes benefits.

6. Child Care Workers

Child care professionals may qualify for the Florida Hometown Heroes Program if they are employed full-time by a licensed child care facility or home daycare in Florida. Facilities must either:

• Be licensed under Florida law (FS 402.301–402.305), OR

• Be legally exempt from licensure (FS 402.313 or FS 402.316).

To confirm eligibility, the child care facility should be listed in the DCF Child Care Directory and display one of these designations:

• Gold Seal

• VPK logo

• Head Start logo

Eligible Roles Include:

• Any worker employed at a licensed child care center

• Any worker at a licensed or registered home daycare

👉 Confirm if your child care or daycare job makes you eligible today.

7. Military & Veterans

The Florida Hometown Heroes Program also supports those who have served or are currently serving in the U.S. Armed Forces. Both active service members and veterans may be eligible if they meet the program’s requirements.

Eligible Roles Include:

Service Members

• All active duty or reserve members of the U.S. Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, Coast Guard, and Space Force

• Florida National Guard members

Veterans

• Must be employed full-time with a Florida-based employer

• Must have been discharged under conditions other than dishonorable from one of the eligible military or reserve branches

👉 Check eligibility for service members and veterans under Hometown Heroes.

Recap: Who Qualifies for Hometown Heroes Job Eligibility

The Florida Hometown Heroes Program is designed to make homeownership more affordable for those who serve Florida communities. To qualify under the job eligibility requirement, at least one borrower must:

• Work full-time for a Florida-based, brick-and-mortar employer

• Hold a position in one of the approved categories:

  • Healthcare Workers (nurses, technicians, therapists, doctors, mental health, and more)

  • School Staff (K–12 teachers, aides, administrators, support staff)

  • First Responders (firefighters, EMTs, paramedics)

  • Public Safety Workers (law enforcement, 911 dispatchers, corrections, probation officers)

  • Court Employees (attorneys, clerks, public defenders, state attorneys, reporters)

  • Child Care Workers (licensed daycare and preschool staff)

  • Military & Veterans (active duty, reserves, National Guard, and qualifying veterans)

✅ Only one borrower on the loan needs to meet the occupational requirement.

👉 Check if your job qualifies for Hometown Heroes assistance today.