Florida Hometown Heroes
Effective June 1st, 2022
The Hometown Heroes (HTH) Housing Program makes housing affordable for eligible “frontline” workers, educators, police officers, healthcare providers, childcare, firefighters, nurses, military personnel, and others by providing down payment and closing cost assistance to qualified homebuyers. The Florida Hometown Heroes Loan Program offers a lower first mortgage rate AND additional special benefits to those who currently serve their communities and those who have served and continue to serve their country.
# of Employees in Florida by Occupation
| Occupation Title | # of Employees |
| Protective Service Occupations (Law Enforcement, Firefighters, etc) | 255,210 |
| Educational Instruction | 397,860 |
| Childcare | 44,700 |
| Healthcare Practitioners (Physicians, Nurses, etc.) | 563,590 |
| Healthcare Support | 285,180 |
| Veterans | 1,542,770 |
| Total | 3,089,310 |
First Time Homebuyer Defined
- Do not own the home they currently live in
- Do not claim their mobile home as real property (it’s on rented lot/land)
- Have not owned AND occupied a primary residence withing the past three years
- Must be able to permanently reside in the US
- Will occupy the property as a primary residence within 60 days of closing
“Salute Our Soldiers” Eligible Participants Rolled In!
- Veterans whose discharge status is anything other than dishonorable
- Active-duty personnel from the military (Air Force, Army, Coast Guard, Marine Corps, Navy, National Guard, or the Reserves)
- Surviving spouse of deceased veteran who possesses a Certificate of Eligibility (VA loans only)
- Reminder: Veterans and their spouses are exempt from the first-time homebuyer requirement
Occupations Eligible For Participation
- Sworn law enforcement Officer
- Certified Correction Officer (Does not include any secretarial, clerical or professionally trained personnel.)
- Correctional Probation Officer
- Firefighter (an individual who holds a current and valid Firefighter Certificate of Compliance or Special Certificate of Compliance from the division)
- Certified Paramedic
- Certified Emergency Medical Technician (EMT)
- 911 Public Safety Telecommunicator
- Certified Educators
- Classroom teachers
- Certified School Counselors
- Social Workers
- Career Specialists
- School Psychologists
- Librarians
- Licensed Child Care Operators
- Childcare Instructors—Employed by a licensed childcare facility
- Registered Nurse
- LPN-Licensed Practical Nurse
- CNA-certified nursing assistant
- Home Health Aides—Not statutorily required for certification—works for a licensed-only agency
- Health Care Practitioner
- Physicians
- Physician Assistant
- Anesthesiologist Assistants
- Certified Medical Assistants
- Acupuncturist
- Osteopathic Physician
- Chiropractic Physician
- Podiatric Physician
- Pharmacist
- Dentist
- Dental Hygienist
- Certified Nurse Midwife
- Speech-Language Pathologist/Audiologist
- Nursing Home Administrator
- Occupational Therapist or Assistant
- Certified Respiratory Therapist
- Licensed dietitian/nutritionist
- Licensed nutrition counselor
- Athletic trainer
- Prosthetist-Orthotist
- Electrologist
- Massage therapist
- Clinical laboratory personnel
- Licensed medical physicist (X-Ray)
- Optometrist
- Optician
- Hearing Aid specialist
- Physical therapist
- Physical therapist assistant
- Psychologist
- Clinical social worker
- Marriage and family therapist
- Mental health counselor
