The City of Tacoma has contracted with the Tacoma Community Redevelopment Authority to operate a down payment assistance program. This program is designed to be consistent with and address disparities identified in the City’s 2021 Homeownership Disparity Study. This study found that one of the lowest homeownership rates in the City of Tacoma was for Black households.  As a result of the outcomes of the study this program has a goal of serving at least 65% Black households.

Individuals Interested in Down Payment Assistance Should:

Call (253) 591-5763 or via email.

Timeline:

Referrals are being accepted from the Tacoma Pierce County Habitat for Humanity and Young Black Homeowners through December 2024 or until all funding has been committed.

This program can provide up to $60,000 as a down payment for a home. Assistance is provided as a no interest 25-year loan. This loan must be repaid:

• At the end of the 25-year term;
• If the home is sold; or
• If the borrower does not occupy the home as their primary residence

  Program General Eligibility Requirements:

• Home must be located inside the city limits of Tacoma;
• Be at or below 80% area median income:
  
  

  Household Size	1	2	3	4	5	6
  Max Income (80%)	$64,900	$74,150	$83,400	$92,650	$100,100	$107,500

• Be a first-time homebuyer (an individual nor the spouse or domestic partner of that individual may have owned a home in the three-year period prior to purchasing a home under this program); and
• Must complete at least five homebuyer education workshops.

To meet the homebuyer education requirements one (1) WSHFC homebuyer course and four (4) additional City-sponsored homebuyer courses must be completed. Additional details on the required courses can be found below:

1. WSHFC homebuyer course, virtual or in-person, for information, click here.
2. City sponsored course: Tacoma Urban League/Tacoma-Pierce County Habitat for Humanity Pathways to Homeownership courses. Sign-up by visiting the Habitat for Humanity Events page and selecting a Keys to Homeownership event, or, visit The Tacoma Urban League at 2550 S Yakima Ave, Tacoma, WA 98405 on Tuesdays between 2:00PM and 4:30PM.
3. City sponsored course: Young Black Homeowners Workshops- Workshops will take place once a month at Edison Square, 5415 S Tacoma Way, WA 98409. Updates and details on workshops are found on Young Black Homeowners Tacoma Homebuyer Education Webpage.

Households interested in accessing down payment assistance should enroll in the required homebuyer courses as early as possible. Please obtain documentation verifying that you completed each course.

Please note these are general eligibility requirements only. This program requires underwriting of the borrower and any co-applicant and has requirements for the home that is to be purchased using the assistance. These additional program details will be discussed as part of the application and underwriting process.

Homeownership Disparity Study

In June 2020, the Tacoma City Council passed Resolution 40622 formally acknowledging that the City of Tacoma’s existing systems have not adequately served the needs of Black community members and other community members of color. Pursuant to that resolution the City has prioritized anti‐racist approaches to the evaluation of new policies and programs as well as to the comprehensive and sustained transformation of present practices. Furthermore, in November 2020 the City Council passed Resolution 40697 that specifically authorized a study to examine the disparities of homeownership as a housing outcome for Black residents of Tacoma and provide budget and policy recommendations that leverage the results to increase Black homeownership in the City. The Disparity Study was completed in 2021 resulting in the report below. Next steps are currently in development.

Tacoma Housing Disparities Report 2021

For inquiries regarding existing Tacoma down payment assistance loans including:

• Loan Payoff Requests
• Loan Subordination Needed for Refinancing Purposes
• Completing a subordination request form

You may contact the Financial Assistant at (253) 281-7356 or via email.