Homeownership Month Highlights Downpayment Assistance Program Opportunities

Columbia Field Office Team with new homeowner Ms Brooke Scott (center row in white).

Late last year Brooke Scott applied through Lexington County Community Development's HOME Program (https://lex-co.sc.gov/departments/community-development) for home down payment assistance as a first-time home buyer. With the assistance of the program, Scott purchased a home that has the space she needs for her family and closed on her first home on December 28, 2016. Scott, along with Sandy Fox, Cindi Hennigan, and Danielle Woodard with Lexington County Community Development, recently joined with HUD staff to recognize and celebrate her homeownership accomplishment, as part of HUD's Employee Recognition Day, at the Columbia Field Office. Scott a single mother of five children, ages 2 to 14 also takes care of her mother and works for Time Warner Cable. The Lexington County's Down Payment Assistance Program awarded her a deferred forgivable loan in the amount of $5,000 for a down payment on her home.

In an article that was published in Lexington County's Success Story flyer, she expressed "The process was not at all difficult and was even made very pleasant by working with people that truly do care." She added "I highly recommend any and everyone who wishes to reside in Lexington County-Apply for this program!"

Funding for the program is provided through the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) HOME Investment Partnerships (HOME) Program. The program will provide qualified low- and moderate-income (LMI) *first-time homebuyers with down payment and/or closing cost assistance. Assistance will be provided on a first-come, first-served basis in amounts not to exceed $5,000 per applicant. Qualifying homebuyers must be employed, provide requested income documentation, and must participate in the County's Affordable Housing Counseling and Education Program.

###