BY TOM BUSSELBERG
Associate Editor
FARMINGTON С First-time home buyers who meet certain income requirements may be eligible for down payment assistance.
It will be offered this fall by the Davis Community Housing Authority, thanks to nearly $150,000 in federal Community Development Block Grant funds allocated Tuesday by the Davis County Commission.
While details for this year are still being fine tuned, program administrator Mary Swanstrom said a maximum of $5,000 was available to each applicant.
Those applying must be able to contribute at least $1,500 and must stay in their new home for a minimum of five years to avoid having to repay any of the grant, she said.
“Down payment funds went extremely fast, in two months,” she said of past efforts. “There were a lot of people waiting.”
Twenty-five applicants were assisted, representing as “pretty diverse group,” including single home-buyers, Swanstrom said.
Participants must complete a home-buyer education class and be able to prove they are first-time home buyers, she said.
The previous grant cycle awarded grants to nine single heads of households who had up to seven members, she said, with residents of all participating cities included.
The Housing Authority’s program covers the county except for Clearfield, Fruit Heights, Layton and South Weber.
Some $11,000 was also approved for an emergency home repair program, which assists low and moderate income households that own their homes.
Furnaces, leaky faucets, and faulty door locks and disability hardware for bathrooms and door widening are among items frequently covered, Swanstrom said.
“Typically we have heating and plumbing issues,” she said.
A maximum of $2,000 is allocated per household. Three households have been helped this year.
“We haven’t had funds for that program for three or four years,” Swanstrom said.
For more information about these programs, call 801-451-2587 or visit daviscommunityhousing.com.


