New Partnership with Northside Coalition
Provides Down Payment Assistance to Homebuyers
In June 2022, LISC Jacksonville announced a new partnership with the Northside Coalition of Jacksonville to create a Down Payment Assistance Program for prospective homebuyers. The collaboration is an extension of LISC Jacksonville’s Project Boots program. Both homeownership initiatives are designed to disrupt poverty by providing support mechanisms and educational resources to increase homeownership in Jacksonville’s most historically under-resourced neighborhoods.
“Our collective goal is to change the trajectory and narrative of Jacksonville’s most-challenged communities and provide opportunities for those neighborhoods’ citizens to build wealth through homeownership, a historically essential component to creating generational wealth,” said Dr. Irvin “PeDro” Cohen, executive director for LISC Jacksonville.
Funded by the Northside Coalition, the new program will provide between $5,000 and $8,000 in down payment financial assistance to selected participants when they close on their home mortgage loans as well as financial wellbeing courses. As part of its Project Boots program, LISC Jacksonville will lead the six-month curriculum of financial wellbeing classes, which will cover areas such as financial components of homeownership and using homeownership as a generational wealth-building mechanism. Following successful completion of the courses, the program will provide individuals with financial assistance to purchase resale homes in 32206, 32208, 32209, 32210 or 32218 zip codes. Teachers, first responders and non-profit professionals may also be eligible for the higher down payment amounts.
“Ultimately this partnership provides a pathway to homeownership, an opportunity that has been unattainable or denied to residents who for generations have lived in economically challenged neighborhoods,” said Ben Frazier of the Northside Coalition of Jacksonville. “We are pleased to take part in this housing collaboration.”
To participate in the Down Payment Assistance Program, please email Kathie Silvie for application ksilvie@lisc.org
