Grant Programs Encouraging New Home Buyers!

Johns Hopkins Expands Home Buying Grants for Employees
Johns Hopkins recently announced a major expansion of its Live Near Your Work grant program, which encourages employees to buy homes in certain Baltimore neighborhoods. Full-time, benefits-eligible Hopkins employees may qualify for up to $17,000 in down payment and closing cost assistance. The program applies to employees of Johns Hopkins University, Johns Hopkins Hospital, Johns Hopkins Health Care, Johns Hopkins Community Physicians, or Johns Hopkins Bayview. Employees must contribute at least $1,000 toward the down payment and/or closing costs at settlement. Additionally, eligible employees must obtain a certificate documenting the completion of home ownership counseling prior to signing a contract of sale. There are no income restrictions, but the home must be purchased as a primary residence, and graduated repayment provisions do apply, if the home is sold or ceases to be the buyer’s primary residence within five years of the date of purchase. To see more program details and view a map of the targeted neighborhoods go to: www.jhu.edu/lnyw

CHAI Receives Foundation Grant - Charitable Foundation’s Board of Trustees recently awarded Comprehensive Housing Assistance, Inc. (CHAI) a $10,000 grant to support its Housing Services Program. The Foundation’s grant will enable CHAI to deepen its ability to serve clients in foreclosure and financial crisis and increase the emphasis on foreclosure prevention and financial literacy in its educational and counseling services. Since 1983, CHAI has been dedicated to increasing home ownership and economic stability in northwest Baltimore. CHAI’s Housing Services Program provides homebuyer and renovation loans and grants, homebuyer counseling and workshops, foreclosure prevention counseling, referrals to housing professionals, and links to public homeowner assistance programs for potential and existing homeowners in northwest Baltimore City. The Housing Services Program also acquires and renovates neighborhood properties to combat blight and spur neighborhood investment.