Employer-Assisted Housing Program (EAHP)
The Employer-Assisted Housing Program (EAHP) offers a deferred, 0% interest loan and a matching funds grant for down payment and closing costs for eligible District government employees to purchase their first house, condominium, or cooperative unit in the District.
The down payment assistance loan is for the purchase of a principal residence in the District. Borrowers sign a promissory note secured with a subordinate deed of trust recorded against the property.
The loan has zero interest, and no payments are required until the property is:
- is sold or transferred;
- no longer occupied as principal residence;
- refinanced with cash out
For all District government employees, the maximum loan amount is $20,000 and the matching funds grant is a maximum of $5,000.
For first responders, a $10,000 down payment assistance loan that can be forgiven at the end of five years under certain conditions. There is a matching funds grant up to $15,000 (Note: The maximum match is $5,000 for all other District government employees).
How Does the Down Payment Assistance Work?
The down payment assistance is a loan for purchase of a principal residence in the District. The borrowers sign a promissory note secured with a subordinate deed of trust recorded against the property. The loan has zero interest, and no payments are required until the property is: (1) is sold or transferred; (2) no longer occupied as principal residence; or (3) refinanced with cash out.
How Does the Matching Funds Grant Work?
EAHP will provide $1,000 of grant funds to match each full $2,500 of borrower savings (all non-retirement financial assets in the borrower’s name), up to $5,000 of matching funds.
All employees eligible for the First-Responder grant are also eligible for the standard $20,000 EAHP loan.
Who Is Eligible for EAHP?
EAHP is available to full-time District government employees in good standing with at least one year of service.
The service requirement is waived for:
- police officers
- corrections officers
- firefighters
- emergency medical technicians
- paramedics
- teachers in a public or public charter school
Good standing means no adverse action by the District government employer in the past three years.
Does the EAHP Borrower Have to Be a First-Time Home Buyer?
The EAHP borrower must have no ownership in a principal residence, in the District, in the past three years. The purchased property must become the principal residence, but the borrower can own property in another jurisdiction .