HOMEOWNERS
Delaware needs clear and strong routes to homeownership-- free of discrimination. We need to keep homeowners in their homes.
Delawareans still face redlining, predatory lending, and unfair foreclosures when it comes to buying a home. Neighborhoods continue to be racially segregated, despite changes to the law around racial discrimination in home purchases. Poor, Black, and Brown homeowners are often pushed out of their homes because of gentrification and code violations that lead to foreclosures. There are few funds to help people become homeowners, or to help current homeowners to stay in their home.
H.O.M.E.S. wants to implement policy solutions that ensure fair lending practices, that provide funds for repair and maintenance of properties, and policies and practices that protect homeowners from displacement.
POLICIES ON OUR 2024 AGENDA
PLACE A MORATORIUM ON WATER BILL FORECLOSURES
Temporarily stop city foreclosure actions for delinquent water bills. Evaluate current and past water billing practices and the impact of past foreclosure practices. Use this information to develop and implement a system to ensure sustainable access to clean water for all.
CREATE A HOMEOWNER REPAIR GRANT PROGRAM
Create a program to provide grants to low-income home-owners to pay for repairs needed to maintain the health and safety of their home (Dept. of Real Estate and Housing).
EXPAND HOMEOWNER REPAIR LOAN PROGRAM
Create a program to provide loans to low-income home-owners to pay for repairs needed to maintain the health and safety of their home. Analyze history of existing program and compare with best practices in other cities to develop a program that will have a greater impact. (Dept. of Real Estate and Housing)
CREATE DOWN-PAYMENT AND SETTLEMENT ASSISTANCE PROGRAMS FOR NEW HOMEOWNERS
Create a Down Payment and Settlement Assistance Program to help renters buy homes and incentivize new residents to become homeowners in Wilmington. Consider focused programs such as "Live Where You Work" and assistance for low- and moderate- income Wilmington residents who are first-time home-buyers. Link programs to existing financial coaching and home-ownership counseling resources (Dept. of Real Estate and Housing).
CONTACT THE H.O.M.E.S. CAMPAIGN
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