Popular Home Buying Program Has Zero Balance

JACKSONVILLE, FL -- Mychelle Grover is one of forty first-time home buyers who learned city money they qualified for is not available, at least right now.

"I just really wanted to sit down and cry," said Grover, who is a school teacher.

The "Head Start to Home Ownership" program is federally funded, but administered by the city. In the past decade, it has helped 2,000 families realize the dream of home ownership.

Housing Director Wight Greger says 1.9 million federal housing dollars are available, but the city council first must sign off on the transfer. Greger says budget hearings this summer delayed action, but she expects the council to approve the appropriation in two weeks.

In the meantime, families who had to postpone their closings are being asked to be patient.

"We are talking to many of them on the phone right now, realtors and their lenders and letting them know where we are," said Greger.

She says families who qualified but are waiting will get money for their down payment and closing expenses.

Grover says she's willing to be patient.

"Hopefully by the end of this month or next month we can go ahead and get things situated," said Grover, who cannot wait to move into her dream home.

The city says the popular home buying program will likely exhaust the $1.9 million before Christmas.

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