Change Incorporated presents HUD-funded down-payment assistance program for Northern Panhandle consortium

Joy Reese of Change Incorporated told the Hancock County Commission that Change Incorporated administers a HUD-funded first-time homebuyer program for the Northern Panhandle Fund Consortium and must hold a public hearing in each jurisdiction as part of the HUD grant process.

Reese said the consortium has not finalized a 2025 budget and for planning is using the 2024 allocation, which she reported as $226,673.75. She described the program as providing up to $10,000 in down payment and closing-cost assistance to low- and moderate-income first-time homebuyers in the consortium jurisdictions.

Reese said Change Incorporated has administered the program since 1997 and provided historical totals for local jurisdictions. She reported that 29 homebuyers in Hancock County have received assistance totaling $1,203,019.50; she said Brooke County and city figures were also included in her totals and that the combined allocations in the jurisdictions she described sum to $3,862,409.90.

Reese outlined a key obligation for recipients: program participants must reside in the assisted home for five years, verify residency annually, and the deed of trust is released at the end of the five-year period. She identified herself as a HUD-certified housing counselor and offered counseling services for credit, budgeting and foreclosure-prevention should recipients need assistance.

Commissioners invited questions and encouraged residents to use the program. Reese said she would remain after the meeting for a town-hall-style discussion to correct misunderstandings and answer follow-up questions.