HOME Program

HOME INVESTMENT PARTNERSHIPS PROGRAM

The HOME Investment Partnerships Program (HOME) provides formula grants to states and localities that communities use - often in partnership with local nonprofit groups - to fund a wide range of activities including building, buying, and/or rehabilitating affordable housing for rent or homeownership or providing direct rental assistance to low-income people. HOME is the largest federal block grant to state and local governments designed exclusively to create affordable housing for low-income households. HOME funds are awarded annually as formula grants to participating jurisdictions (PJs). The program’s flexibility allows states and local governments to use HOME funds for grants, direct loans, loan guarantees or other forms of credit enhancements, or rental assistance or security deposits.

The program reinforces several important values and principles of community development:

• Flexibility empowers people and communities to design and implement strategies tailored to their own needs and priorities.
• Emphasis on consolidated planning expands and strengthens partnerships among all levels of government and the private sector in the development of affordable housing.
• Technical assistance activities and set-aside for qualified community-based nonprofit housing groups builds the capacity of these partners.
• Requirement that participating jurisdictions match 25 cents of every dollar in program funds mobilizes community resources in support of affordable housing.

U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development