Home Ownership
Homeownership may be a good option for some individuals, based on factors such as income, credit history, and local housing market. Chapter 2 of The Philly Primer: Housing Resources for People with Disabilities provides an introduction to homeownership, the five basic steps to owning a home, how the equity in your home could effect disability benefits, information about buying a home with other people, and financing programs to assist individuals with disabilities.
Homeownership Resources
Below are some of the federal, state, and local resources available to assist with homeownership.
- For information about HUD programs, visit http://www.hud.gov/local/pa/homeownership/buyingprgms.cfm
- For information about programs through the Pennsylvania Housing Finance Agency (PHFA), visit http://www.phfa.org/consumers/homebuyers/homebuyers.aspx
- Many Pennsylvania communities are eligible for assistance through USDA’s Rural Housing Development Programs. For more information, visit http://www.rurdev.usda.gov/pa/PA_RD_Programs.htm
- Some communities also offer assistance through their county or city community development offices. For a list of local offices, visit http://www.hud.gov/local/pa/community/home/
Homeownership Model
The 626 Co-op in Abington, PA provides a shared housing based homeownership model for individuals with mental illness. This model is described under Group Shared Residence under the Shared Housing section of the website.