TO: Mayor and Members of City Council
THRU: Kelly Strickland, Assistant City Manager
FROM: Christopher Cauley, MPA, Director of Economic and Community Development
Jeffrey Morin, Housing Program Manager
DATE: April 7, 2025
RE:
Title
Presentation on the Proposed Changes to the Homebuying HERO Program
end
COUNCIL DISTRICT(S):
Council District(s)
All
b
Relationship To Strategic Plan:
GOAL IV: The City of Fayetteville will be a highly desirable place to live, work and recreate.
* 4.5: To ensure a place for people to live in great neighborhoods
* 4.6: To reduce poverty and homelessness
Executive Summary:
To further refine the Homebuying HERO program, staff requests that the Council consider the following:
1) Add the one (1) year employment requirement for Public Service HEROes
2) Add the "Meets Expectations" requirement for Public Service HEROes
3) Remove the guaranteed $30,000 for City Employees HERO;
4) Allow Public Service retirees to be eligible for increased funding up to $30,000.
Background:
In May of 2024, the City Council approved the expansion of the City's down payment assistance program. As part of the expansion, funding for Low-to-moderate income individuals was changed from Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) to the HOME Investment Partnership (HOME). This removed the matching requirement of down payment funds. The expansion also included the eligibility for Public Service employees (Cumberland County Government, Cumberland County Schools, and Cape Fear Valley Medical System) to utilize the program with an increased amount of funding ($30,000). This expansion coincided with the rebranding and relaunch of the Homebuying HERO program on July 1st 2024 to included three (3) separate categorizes and funding amounts; Citizen HERO at up to $20,000, the Public Service HERO at up to $30,000, and the City Employee HERO at $30,000. This expansion has resulted in an increased interest from lenders, realtors, organizations, and ...
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