The Down Payment Assistance program provides homeownership assistance for first-time homebuyers to create opportunities for long-term, stable, affordable housing for those with a higher risk of housing instability.

1. (1) Funding is available through grants to eligible subrecipients

2. (2) Geographic Eligibility: FEMA IA-declared counties for DR-4562:

   1. (a) HUD-identified MID counties: Clackamas, Douglas, Jackson, Lane, Lincoln, Linn, and Marion
   2. (b) Grantee-identified MID counties: Klamath

3. (3) Eligible Beneficiaries: To be eligible for the program, applicants must meet the following criteria:

   1. (a) Must have a household income at or below 120% of the AMI.
   2. (b) Must have experienced a verified residential loss as a result of the 2020 Wildfires and Straight-line Winds for households between 80.1% and 120% AMI.

   3. (c) Must be a first-time homebuyer. A first-time homebuyer is an individual who meets any one of the following criteria:

      1. (A) An individual who has had no ownership in a principal residence during the 3- year period ending on the date of purchase of the property. This may also include a spouse.
      2. (B) A single parent who has only owned with a former spouse while married.
      3. (C) An individual who is displaced and has only owned with a spouse. A displaced individual is someone whose marital status affects their ability to be properly housed.
   4. (d) Cannot have received or be determined eligible for and pursuing an award through the Homeowner Assistance and Reconstruction Program.
   5. (e) Must agree to the affordability terms, which includes maintaining the property as owner-occupants for a defined period (homebuyer affordability period) and recording a deed restriction on the property to ensure that the property remains affordable to income-eligible homeowners for a defined period in the event of resale (property affordability period).
   6. (f) Must meet the Program’s underwriting requirements. The underwriting process will review the applicant for such items as the applicant’s ability to afford the cost of maintaining a home and will be detailed in the program guidelines.
4. (4) Administration: The funds will be administered by subrecipients.
5. (5) Updated program information can be found at the OHCS ReOregon website.

Statutory/Other Authority

ORS 456.555

Statutes/Other Implemented

ORS 458.315 - 458.317

History

OHCS 25-2025, adopt filed 05/23/2025, effective 05/23/2025