What Changed in the Florida Hometown Heroes Program for 2025?

The Florida Hometown Heroes Program has just been funded for 2025, but there are some major changes you need to know about.

This program continues to help frontline workers achieve homeownership, but eligibility is becoming stricter this year.

Below is a clear guide to what stayed the same, what changed, and what these updates mean for you.

Check Your 2025 Florida Hometown Heroes Program Eligibility

What is the Florida Hometown Heroes Program?

The Florida Hometown Heroes Program is a down payment assistance program that helps frontline workers buy a home in Florida.

It gives eligible workers up to 5% of their home’s purchase price, with a maximum of $35,000, to help pay for the down payment and closing costs.

This money comes as a second loan with 0% interest and no monthly payments, and you only pay it back when you sell, refinance, or pay off your home.

The program is for people like healthcare workers, teachers, first responders, military members, veterans, and other public service employees who work full-time for a Florida-based employer.

Its goal is to make buying a home easier and more affordable for the people who serve their communities every day.

Check Your 2025 Florida Hometown Heroes Program Eligibility

What Stayed the Same?

The Florida Hometown Heroes Program kept many of its core benefits and rules the same for 2025:

1. Down Payment Assistance Amount: It still offers up to 5% of the first mortgage amount, capped at $35,000, for down payment and closing costs.

2. 0% Interest Second Loan: The assistance remains a 0% interest, non-amortizing second mortgage with no monthly payments required.

3. Repayment Rules: You only have to repay the assistance when you sell, refinance, or pay off your home.

4. First-Time Homebuyer Requirement: Buyers must still be first-time homebuyers or not have owned a home in the past three years.

5. Full-Time Employment: You must continue to work full-time for a Florida-based employer to qualify.

6. Primary Residence: The home you buy must be your primary residence – not an investment or vacation property.

7. Income Limits: Income limits based on county and household size still apply, ensuring the program serves low- and moderate-income workers.

8. Approved Lenders: You still have to use a participating lender approved by Florida Housing to access the program.

9. Education Requirement: A homebuyer education course is still required before closing to qualify for assistance.

10. Eligible Property Types: Eligible properties remain the same, including single-family homes, townhomes, and approved condos.

These consistent rules mean that if you were eligible last year, and your occupation remains covered, you can expect a similar process and support when applying in 2025.

Check Your 2025 Florida Hometown Heroes Program Eligibility

What Changed in 2025?

In 2025, the program will only be available to specific frontline occupations such as healthcare workers, school staff, first responders, public safety employees, court employees, and active military or veterans, unlike in previous years where more occupations were included.

1. Stricter Occupation Eligibility:
   The program is now limited to only certain frontline occupations. In 2025, eligible occupations include:

   • Healthcare workers

   • School staff members

   • First responders

   • Public safety employees

   • Court employees

   • Active military members or veterans (including United States Military, Coast Guard, Reserves, or Florida National Guard)

2. Removal of Other Occupations:
   Many occupations that were eligible in 2024 are no longer covered in 2025. Only the specific categories listed above qualify this year.

3. Funding Availability Date:
   Funds for the program will not be available until at least July 1st, 2025, pending final approval from the Governor. In past years, funds were often available sooner.

4. Reduced Funding Amount:
   The 2025 budget allocates $50 million in funding, which is a reduction compared to previous years that sometimes had larger funding pools.

5. Pending Governor Approval:
   Although the budget has passed the Legislature, it is still awaiting Governor DeSantis’s signature, meaning the program’s final details and timeline are not fully confirmed yet.

These changes significantly narrow who qualifies for the program and when funds will become available, so it’s important to check your eligibility before planning your home purchase this year.

Check Your 2025 Florida Hometown Heroes Program Eligibility

What These Changes Mean for You

If you work in one of the eligible occupations, you still have access to funding, but if your role is no longer covered, you may need to look for alternative down payment assistance programs or adjust your home buying timeline for this year.

Additionally, you may face more competition for limited funds, since there is only $50 million available statewide in 2025.

Check Your 2025 Florida Hometown Heroes Program Eligibility

FAQs About Changes to the Hometown Heroes Program in 2025

Here are answers to the top questions people have about the 2025 updates, so you can fully understand how these changes may affect your home buying plans.

1. Who exactly qualifies for the program in 2025?

Only frontline workers in healthcare, school staff, first responders, public safety, court employees, and active military or veterans are eligible this year.

2. When will the funds actually be available?

Funds will not be released until at least July 1st, 2025, pending final approval by Governor DeSantis.

3. How much total funding is available this year?

The program has $50 million in funding for 2025, which is less than in some previous years, so funds may run out more quickly.

4. Can I reserve funding before July 1st?

No, you cannot reserve funding or lock in assistance before it becomes officially available after the release date.

5. Does this affect how quickly homes will go under contract?

Yes, fewer buyers may qualify under the stricter rules, but eligible buyers might rush to use funds before they run out, creating competition in summer and fall.

6. What happens if I was eligible last year but not this year?

You will no longer be able to use the program in 2025 if your occupation is not on the new approved list, and you’ll need to explore other assistance options.

7. Will the maximum assistance amount change this year?

No, the maximum remains at 5% of your first mortgage amount, capped at $35,000, the same as last year.

8. Does the program still require first-time homebuyer status?

Yes, you must still be a first-time homebuyer or not have owned a home in the past three years to qualify.

9. Is there a chance these changes will be reversed later in the year?

Changes are part of the official 2025 budget, so they are unlikely to be reversed until the next legislative session or budget cycle.

10. What should I do now if I plan to use this program?

Check your occupation’s eligibility immediately, speak with an approved lender to prepare your paperwork, and plan your home search around the July funding release date to move quickly once funds become available.

Check Your 2025 Florida Hometown Heroes Program Eligibility