HUD Archives: News Releases
HUD No. 04-15
Patricia Campbell
(817) 978-5974/5965		For Release
Wednesday
June 2, 2004

HUD SECRETARY JACKSON ANNOUNCES MORE THAN $11.7 MILLION IN DOWNPAYMENT ASSISTANCE FOR FIRST-TIME HOMEBUYERS IN TEXAS
American Dream Downpayment Act to Provide Up to $10,000 to Eligible Individuals and Families

FORT WORTH - Hundreds of low-income families living in Texas communities can now realize the dream of homeownership because of $11,734,341 million in American Dream Downpayment Initiative (ADDI) funding announced today by Housing and Urban Development Secretary Alphonso Jackson. (See chart below.)

"The single greatest obstacle to homeownership is the downpayment and closing costs," said Jackson. "This program will give first-time homebuyers downpayment assistance grants up to $10,000 or six percent of the home's purchase price, whichever is greater. Not only will these grants help to defray the upfront costs of purchasing a first home, they can also be used to help offset the costs of rehabilitating the property."

To be eligible for this assistance, individuals must be first-time homebuyers interested in purchasing one- to four-family housing, condominium unit, cooperative unit or manufactured housing. In addition, individuals who qualify for this assistance must have incomes not exceeding 80 percent of area median income. If you are interested in
obtaining downpayment assistance through this program, local information is available on the Internet.

Jackson said, "During the Bush Administration, a record number of new homeowners, specifically minority families,
have achieved a home of their own. I encourage Congress to fully support the President's request to continue this important new homeownership tool so even more Texas families can realize their American Dream."

Community American Dream Funding
Amarillo
$113,564
Arlington
$236,438
Austin
$661,065
Corpus Christi
$166,018
Dallas
$1,164,409
Denton
$51,438
El Paso
$325,092
Fort Worth
$413,482
Garland
$108,772
Houston
$1,729,269
Irving
$173,037
Laredo
$83,373
Lubbock
$163,035
Orange Regional Consortium
$35,998
Pasadena
$54,644
Plano
$66,753
San Antonio
$731,835
Waco
$115,023
Bexar County
$60,467
Brazoria County
$88,775
Dallas County
$83,541
Fort Bend County
$55,614
Harris County
$436,671
Hidalgo County
$105,749
Montgomery County
$55,720
Tarrant County
$202,461
State of Texas
$4,252,098
Texas Total
$11,734,341

The American Dream Downpayment Act will be administered under HUD's HOME Investment Partnerships Program (HOME). Since its inception, the HOME Program has assisted more than 300,000 families to become homeowners, 55 percent of which are minorities. Information about The American Dream Downpayment Initiative is available on theInternet.

June is National Homeownership month - a month-long educational outreach effort designed to provide important homebuying information and financial tools, particularly to minority families. The Census reports that, for the first
time in our nation's history, more than half of minority families own their own home. But minority homeownership
rates still fall well short of the national homeownership rate of nearly 70 percent. In June 2002, President Bush
issued The Homeownership Challenge to close this 'homeownership gap' by adding 5.5 million minority homeowners
by the end of the decade. Since then, more than two dozen organizations are working to create more than $1 trillion in mortgage financing for minority homebuyers.

HUD is the nation's housing agency committed to increasing homeownership, particularly among minorities; creating affordable housing opportunities for low-income Americans; and supporting the homeless, elderly, people with disabilities and people living with AIDS. The Department also promotes economic and community development as well as enforces the nation's fair housing laws. More information about HUD and its programs is available on the Internet and espanol.hud.gov.

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Content Archived: March 15, 2011