DHCD Director Colleen Green issued the following statement on awarding Home Purchase Assistance Program (HPAP) loans through a lottery process:

The DC Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD) remains committed to providing down payment assistance to first-time homebuyers in the District through its Home Purchase Assistance Program (HPAP).

For many first-time homebuyers, the process of buying a home can have moments of uncertainty. Our goal is to provide prospective homebuyers with more assurance.

Given the high demand and limited availability of funds, DHCD will award HPAP loans through a lottery process. If selected, DHCD will reserve funding for up to six (6) months giving a prospective homebuyer more certainty when deciding on a home, mortgage provider or other advisory services.

Now that buyers know how much funding they have and by when they must use it, their homebuying experience becomes less speculative and more straightforward.

We are excited about implementing this new process and looking forward to giving first-time homebuyers an opportunity to pursue their homeownership goals in the District of Columbia.