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Bill would let first responders buy homes for $0 down

Police leaders celebrated the bill, saying it could help alleviate the police recruiting crisis

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The HELPER Act would provide a one-time, $0 down home loan option for civil servants.

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By Suzie Ziegler

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — A bipartisan bill sponsored by Senators Marco Rubio (R-Florida) and Jon Ossoff (D-Georgia) aims to make homeownership more attainable for first responders and teachers. Rubio held a press conference during National Police Week to highlight the bill he first introduced in October 2021.

“It’s a law designed to help the people who help us,” Rubio told Fox News on Sunday. “They’re struggling in many parts of this country to be able to afford to live in the cities that they’re serving.”

The HELPER Act (Homes for Every Local Protector, Educator and Responder) would provide a one-time, $0 down home loan option for civil servants, ABC 10 reported. First responders must have served at least four years to qualify for the program, according to Fox News.

Police leaders celebrated the bill, saying it could attract more officers to expensive housing markets.

Gus Papathanasiou, the chairman of the U.S. Capitol Police labor committee, said the bill could help alleviate the police recruiting crisis.

“These are incredibly difficult times to recruit young men and women to law enforcement,” Papathanasiou told Fox News. “The HELPER Act gives us an important tool to help officers access the housing market and have their slice of the American dream, which is homeownership.”

MORE: The impact of housing costs on police officer

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