Florida Hometown Heroes Program Relaunches With $50 Million in 2025 Funding

Florida’s Hometown Heroes Housing Program, designed to make homeownership more affordable for essential workers, reopened on August 18, 2025, but with half the funding it offered last year.

The program, which provides down payment and closing cost assistance to first-time, income-qualified homebuyers, has $50 million in available funds this year, compared to $100 million in 2024.

Last year’s funding assisted more than 6,100 families across 63 counties, with an average loan amount of $321,087 and average assistance of $16,198.

Background on the Program

The initiative, launched in 2022, was created to make homeownership more accessible for Florida’s workforce. Eligible borrowers include healthcare workers, teachers, first responders, public safety staff, childcare employees, court staff, and veterans.

In addition to down payment support, borrowers can access reduced interest rates on FHA, VA, USDA, and conventional loans. Assistance is capped at 5% of the loan amount, up to $35,000.

Veterans and active-duty military members are also eligible for added benefits under the initiative.

Note on funding: Funding for 2025 has been reduced to $50 million, down from nearly $100 million in 2024, effectively halving the available assistance this year and increasing competition among applicants

How Much Assistance Is Available

Through the program, qualifying buyers can receive up to $35,000 in assistance, depending on income level and loan type.

The aid can be used to cover both down payment and closing costs which are two of the biggest barriers to homeownership for first-time buyers in Florida.

Occupations commonly eligible for the program include teachers, law enforcement officers, firefighters, healthcare professionals, and other workers considered vital to Florida’s communities.

Strong Demand in Past Years

With half the money available compared to last year, competition for assistance is expected to be intense. In 2024, average assistance per borrower was $16,198, with an average loan amount of $321,087.

Program administrators anticipate that this year’s smaller pool may run out quickly.

In past years, the program has proven to be extremely popular.

Funding rounds have often run out within months of reopening, with thousands of buyers turning to Hometown Heroes to bridge the affordability gap.

Officials expect similar demand in 2025, given ongoing housing challenges across the state.

Florida’s Affordability Challenge

Affordability has become one of Florida’s most pressing issues.

According to housing data, median home prices in the state have increased more than 40 percent over the past five years.

Mortgage rates, while down slightly from last year’s highs, remain at levels not seen in nearly two decades.

These factors have combined to make saving for both down payments and closing costs increasingly difficult for many households, particularly first-time buyers.

Programs such as Hometown Heroes aim to offset those pressures by lowering upfront costs.

For many families, the assistance can mean the difference between continuing to rent and stepping into homeownership.

By requiring buyers to live in the home as their primary residence, the program is also designed to encourage long-term community stability.

Benefits for Military Members

In addition to civilian occupations, the program extends significant benefits to military members.

Active-duty service members and veterans qualify even if they are not employed in one of the program’s listed occupations (healthcare, teachers, first responders, etc.).

Unlike civilian applicants, who must be employed full-time by a Florida-based employer, active-duty members are not bound by the same employment rule.

Members of the U.S. Military Reserves, National Guard, and Coast Guard (including their reserves) are eligible.

Veterans only need to show that they were honorably discharged to qualify — they do not need to be currently employed full-time in Florida.

And by combining Hometown Heroes assistance with the VA loan program, many veterans are able to purchase a home with little to no out-of-pocket cash required.

Applications Open Now

With the 2025 relaunch now live, prospective homebuyers are encouraged to connect with a participating lender as soon as possible to determine eligibility and begin the application process.

Given the program’s track record of rapid funding depletion, housing experts warn that delays could mean missing out for the year.

Applications are now open statewide. More information is available through the Florida Housing Finance Corporation and approved lending partners.

Homebuyers interested in applying are urged to work with an approved lender before funds are exhausted.

Check Your Florida Hometown Heroes Program Eligibility