The Florida Senate
BILL ANALYSIS AND FISCAL IMPACT STATEMENT
(This document is based on the provisions contained in the legislation as of the latest date listed below.)
Prepared By: The Professional Staff of the Appropriations Subcommittee on Transportation, Tourism, and Economic
Development
BILL: SB 788
INTRODUCER: Senator Hooper
SUBJECT: Florida Hometown Hero Housing Program
DATE: February 1, 2022
ANALYST STAFF DIRECTOR REFERENCE ACTION
1. Hackett Ryon CA Favorable
2. McAuliffe Hrdlicka ATD Pre-meeting
3. AP
I. Summary:
SB 788 creates the “Florida Hometown Hero Housing Program,” a new downpayment assistance
program within the Florida Housing Finance Corporation (FHFC). Under the program, eligible
homebuyers will have access to loans which reduce down payments and closing costs. Loans
must be repaid when the property is sold, refinanced, rented, or transferred, unless otherwise
approved by the FHFC.
Eligible homebuyers are those seeking first mortgages, of limited family income, and employed
as any of the following:
A sworn law enforcement officer;
A correctional officer or correctional probation officer;
A 911 public safety telecommunicator;
A firefighter;
An educator;
A paramedic or emergency medical technician;
A licensed health care practitioner;
A physician assistant or medical assistant; or
A home health aide.
This program will supplement and function alongside existing down payment assistance
programs currently administered by the FHFC. The bill does not appropriate funds for the
program, however the Board of Directors of the FHFC may decide to use funds from other
sources to administer the program.
The bill takes effect upon becoming a law.
REVISED: BILL: SB 788 Page 2
II. Present Situation:
Affordable Housing
One major goal at all levels of government is to ensure that citizens have access to affordable
housing. Housing is considered affordable when it costs less than 30 percent of a family’s gross
income. A family paying more than 30 percent of its income for housing is considered “cost
burdened,” while those paying more than 50 percent are considered “extremely cost burdened.”
Severely cost burdened households are more likely to sacrifice other necessities like healthy food
and healthcare to pay for housing and to experience unstable housing situations like evictions.
Affordable housing is defined in terms of household income. Resident eligibility for Florida’s
state and federally funded housing programs is typically governed by area median income (AMI)
levels, published annually by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD)
for every county and metropolitan area. The following are standard household income level
definitions and their relationship to the 2021 Florida state median income of $70,000 for a family
of four (as family size increases or decreases, the income range also increases or decreases):
1
Extremely low income – earning up to 30 percent AMI (at or below $21,000);
2
Very low income – earning from 30.01 to 50 percent AMI ($21,001 to $35,000);
3
Low income – earning from 50.01 to 80 percent AMI ($35,001 to $56,000);
4
and
Moderate income – earning from 80.01 to 120 percent of AMI ($56,001 to $84,000).
5
Housing costs reflect what people are willing to pay to live in an area, which in some instances,
due to low supply and high demand, makes it difficult for people in the workforce (middle-
income workers), elders, and people with disabilities to find affordable homes and apartments.
The government helps make housing affordable through decreased monthly rent or mortgage
payments, so that income eligible families are able to pay less for the housing than it would
otherwise cost at “market rate.” Lower monthly payments or down payment assistance is a result
of affordable housing financing.
Florida Housing Finance Corporation
The Florida Housing Finance Corporation (FHFC) is a public-private entity created to assist in
providing a range of affordable housing opportunities for Floridians. The FHFC is a corporation
held by the state and housed within the Department of Economic Opportunity (DEO). The FHFC
is a separate budget entity and its operations, including those relating to personnel, purchasing,
transactions involving real or personal property, and budgetary matters, are not subject to
control, supervision, or direction by the DEO.
6
1
U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, Income Limits, Access Individual Income Limits Areas – Click Here
for FY 2021 IL Documentation, available at https://www.huduser.gov/portal/datasets/il.html#2021 (last visited Jan. 28, 2022).
2
Section 420.0004(9), F.S.
3
Section 420.0004(17), F.S.
4
Section 420.0004(11), F.S.
5
Section 420.0004(12), F.S.
6
Section 420.504(1), F.S. BILL: SB 788 Page 3
The goal of the FHFC is to increase the supply of safe, affordable housing for individuals and
families with very low to moderate incomes by stimulating investment of private capital and
encouraging public and private sector housing partnerships.
7
The FHFC administers federal and
state resources to finance the development and preservation of affordable homeowner and rental
housing and assist homebuyers with financing and down payment assistance.
8
FHFC Homeownership Programs
The FHFC’s primary function is administering a variety of programs to assist in the development
and rehabilitation of affordable housing stock, provide low interest loans for first-time
homebuyers, provide down payment assistance and reduce closing costs, and assist in the
housing side of disaster recovery. The following programs focus primarily on aiding first-time
homebuyers into stable homeownership by reducing mortgage payments and onerous one-time
costs associated with purchasing a home.
Homebuyer Loan Programs
FHFC’s Homebuyer Loan Programs offer 30-year fixed-rate first mortgage loans originated by a
network of participating lenders throughout Florida. The programs are offered to eligible first
time homebuyers
9
who meet income, purchase price, and other program criteria; can qualify for a
loan; and successfully complete a homebuyer education course.
10
Borrowers who qualify for a
first mortgage program may access one of FHFC’s down payment assistance programs.
11
Down Payment Assistance
The FHFC administers multiple down payment assistance (DPA) programs available to first-time
homebuyers utilizing a FHFC first mortgage loan product. DPA is typically offered as a low- or
zero-rate loan, in the form of a second mortgage,
12
to secure funding for down payments, closing
costs, mortgage insurance premiums, or principal reduction to the first mortgage.
13
FHFC DPA
programs are funded from a mix of sources including legislative appropriations and FHFC
program income, which is primarily returned loan money. FHFC’s individual DPA programs are
further described in the paragraphs below.
7
Office of Program Policy Analysis and Government Accountability, Florida Housing Finance Corporation
Overview, Report No. 09-S15 (January 2009), available at https://oppaga.fl.gov/Documents/Reports/09-15S.pdf (last visited
Jan. 28, 2022).
8
Florida Housing Finance Corporation, Program One-Pagers, available at https://floridahousing.org/docs/default-
source/aboutflorida/program-one-pagers (last visited Jan. 28, 2022).
9
The IRS definition of “first-time homebuyer,” generally accepted by Florida agencies and corporations, is a person who has
not owned and occupied his or her primary residence for the past three years. See Florida Housing Finance Corporation,
Homebuyer Overview, available at https://www.floridahousing.org/programs/homebuyer-overview-page (last visited
Jan 28. 2022).
10
The FHFC funds homebuyer loans through various transaction types, including (a) the specified pool market, (2) tax-
exempt bonds, and (3) forward delivery/To Be Announced (TBA) market.
11
See Florida Housing Finance Corporation, 2020 Annual Report, p. 13, available at https://www.floridahousing.org/data-
docs-reports/annual-reports (last visited November 30, 2021).
12
A second mortgage is a subordinate mortgage made while the original is still in effect.
13
Only one FHFC DPA program can be used by a borrower. BILL: SB 788 Page 4
Florida Homeownership Assistance Program - Florida Assist
The Florida Homeownership Assistance Program – Florida Assist (HAP) is a statutorily
prescribed program, providing up to $7,500 in DPA for first-time homebuyers.
14
These loans are
zero percent interest, non-amortizing second mortgage loans, which means the homebuyer does
not make monthly payments on them. Instead, the loan is repaid when the homebuyer sells the
home, transfers ownership, satisfies or refinances the first mortgage, or ceases to occupy the
home. These loans are for applicants whose incomes are at or below 120 percent of AMI.
15
Homeownership Loan Program (HLP) Second Mortgage
The HLP Second Mortgage provides up to $10,000 in DPA for first-time homebuyers. These
loans are 3 percent interest, fully amortizing second mortgage loans. The loan is amortized over
15 years, making monthly payments more affordable to borrowers. The loan becomes due in full
when the homebuyer sells the home, transfers ownership, satisfies or refinances the first
mortgage, or ceases to occupy the home. These loans are available to applicants with income at
or below 140 percent of AMI.
16
Housing Finance Agency (HFA) Preferred Plus Program
The HFA Preferred Plus Program allows first-time homebuyers to receive 3 percent, 4 percent,
or 5 percent of the total first mortgage loan amount as DPA in the form of a forgivable second
mortgage. The loan is forgiven at 20 percent a year over its 5-year term and is available to
applicants whose incomes are at or below 140 percent of AMI.
17
Salute Our Soldiers Program
The Salute Our Soldiers Program is a targeted program operated by FHFC which offers first
mortgages and DPA to active duty military and veterans. The DPA program offers forgivable
second mortgages of up to 5 percent of the total loan amount.
18
To fund the DPA program,
FHFC committed $8,000,000 of internal program funds recovered from previous repaid loans.
19
Hurricane Michael Recovery Loan Program
When Hurricane Michael hit the panhandle region of Florida in late 2018, the FHFC dedicated
funds in 2019 to assist homebuyers, creating the Hurricane Michael Recovery Loan Program.
20
Borrowers utilizing certain first mortgage programs qualified for the second mortgage program.
This second mortgage was a loan of up to $15,000 at 0 percent interest rate, five-year term, and
forgiven at the rate of 20 percent per year. These loans were available to applicants whose
14
Section 420.5088, F.S.
15
Florida Housing Finance Corporation, 2020 Annual Report, p. 13.
16
Id.
17
Id. See Florida Housing Finance Corporation, Homebuyer Overview, available at
https://www.floridahousing.org/programs/homebuyer-overview-page (last visited Jan 28. 2022).
18
Florida Housing Finance Corporation, Lender Guide, March 2, 2020, available at https://www.ehousingplus.com/wp-
content/uploads/FHFC-SOS-06-22-20.pdf (last visited Jan. 28, 2022).
19
Email from Stephanie Sutton, External Affairs Director, FHFC, August 3, 2021, on file with Senate Committee on
Community Affairs.
20
Florida Housing Finance Corporation, Disaster Relief Resources and Information – Hurricane Michael, available at
https://www.floridahousing.org/programs/special-programs/ship---state-housing-initiatives-partnership-program/disaster-
relief (last visited Jan. 28, 2022). BILL: SB 788 Page 5
incomes were at or below 140 percent of AMI and were purchasing a home that cost no more
than $360,067. Additionally, borrowers were not required to qualify as a first-time homebuyer to
be eligible to participate in the program.
21
In total, the FHFC allocated $15 million to the DPA
program, including $5 million in 2019 and $10 million appropriated in 2020.
22
III. Effect of Proposed Changes:
The bill creates s. 420.5096, F.S., to establish the “Florida Hometown Hero Housing Program,”
a new homebuyer assistance program within the FHFC. Under the program, eligible purchasers
will have access to 0 percent interest rate loans to reduce the amount of down payment and
closing costs to a maximum of 5 percent or $25,000, whichever is less. Loans must be repaid
when the property is sold, refinanced, rented, or transferred unless otherwise approved by
the FHFC.
Such loans are available to those seeking first mortgages whose family incomes do not exceed
150 percent of the state or local median income, whichever is greater, and are employed as any
of the following:
A sworn law enforcement officer;
A correctional officer or correctional probation officer;
A 911 public safety telecommunicator;
A firefighter;
An educator;
A paramedic or emergency medical technician;
A licensed health care practitioner;
A physician assistant or medical assistant; or
A home health aide.
Other-personnel-services and temporary employees are not eligible. The program applies to
qualifying home purchases on or after July 1, 2022.
The bill takes effect upon becoming a law.
IV. Constitutional Issues:
A. Municipality/County Mandates Restrictions:
None.
B. Public Records/Open Meetings Issues:
None.
21
Id. See also Florida Housing Finance Corporation, 2020 Annual Report, p. 24.
22
The FHFC allocated $5 million from its 2020 SHIP appropriation, which is an amount set aside for response to declared
disasters. Section 410.9073(5), F.S. In the 2020 General Appropriations Act, funds were specifically appropriated for the
FHFC to provide down payment and closing cost assistance to homebuyers purchasing primary residences in counties
impacted by Hurricane Michael. Specific Appropriation 2202A, ch. 2020-111, Laws of Fla. BILL: SB 788 Page 6
C. Trust Funds Restrictions:
None.
D. State Tax or Fee Increases:
None.
E. Other Constitutional Issues:
None identified.
V. Fiscal Impact Statement:
A. Tax/Fee Issues:
This bill does not affect state or local revenue.
B. Private Sector Impact:
When the program is funded, eligible homebuyers with an approved occupation will
benefit from an additional DPA option, making homeownership more affordable.
C. Government Sector Impact:
The bill itself does not include an appropriation. However, the Board of Directors of the
FHFC could approve use of other funds available to the FHFC, such as eligible federal
funds received by the FHFC or revenues from repayments of previous loans made, to
fund this new program. Creating a new DPA program will increase FHFC
responsibilities.
VI. Technical Deficiencies:
None.
VII. Related Issues:
None.
VIII. Statutes Affected:
This bill creates section 420.5096 of the Florida Statutes.
IX. Additional Information:
A. Committee Substitute – Statement of Changes:
(Summarizing differences between the Committee Substitute and the prior version of the bill.)
None. BILL: SB 788 Page 7
B. Amendments:
None.
This Senate Bill Analysis does not reflect the intent or official position of the bill’s introducer or the Florida Senate.