DeKalb launches DeKalb Home Start down-payment assistance and homeowner preservation programs

Dr. Alan Ferguson, DeKalb County's chief housing officer, laid out new housing tools aimed at expanding homeownership and preserving existing homes across the county.

Ferguson described DeKalb Home Start, a two-tier, income‑based down‑payment assistance program. He said households earning up to 100% of area median income (AMI) for the Atlanta metro — stated in slides as $117,800 for a household of four — may be eligible for up to $20,000 in assistance. Households earning up to 120% AMI (speaker noted a slide correction putting that threshold at about $137,000 for a family of four) could be eligible for up to $15,000.

Ferguson said the county will not restrict participating lenders for this program; prospective homebuyers will be able to select their own lenders, although the county will “stress test” loan types to avoid predatory outcomes. He also announced an employee-assisted homeownership retention incentive of $5,000 for income‑eligible DeKalb County employees.

On home repairs, Ferguson described a homeowner-preservation program offering up to $30,000 in owner-occupied rehabilitation assistance targeted by income and with preferences for seniors, veterans and disabled heads of household. That program can pair with a separate special-purpose home-repair program (cited as up to $14,000) so eligible homeowners could receive up to $44,000 combined for critical repairs.

Ferguson emphasized cohort-based technical assistance for faith‑based and neighborhood owners through a 'DeKalb land to legacy' initiative and an 'Inside the Cabot' education cohort to help small property owners move predevelopment concepts to permitting and construction.