The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) manages a home loan program, which expands housing opportunities for service members and veterans. The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) administers a similar program called the Good Neighbor Next Door (GNND), designed to encourage law enforcement and certain other public servants to buy homes in “revitalization areas” by providing incentives in the form of a discount on the list price of the house. Unfortunately, GNND has proven inadequate as the number of properties available is very limited and constantly changing.

H.R. 3170/S. 1514 will give the men and women of law enforcement, who work tirelessly every day to protect our communities, more opportunities to find homes they can afford on a public servant’s salary by creating a home loan benefits program for first responders and educators based on the VA model. The Federal Housing Administration Mortgage Insurance Program for first responders will streamline eligibility, expand eligible areas, eliminate down payment requirements, and eliminate a monthly insurance premium requirement. This will greatly expand the affordable housing options for law enforcement officers and their families.