An excited Alanna Cooper went to closing last week and received $37,000 toward the purchase of her first home, thanks to two first time home buyer assistance programs that she was eligible to use to buy her home. A single Mom working for the Prince George’s County Public School System, Ms. Cooper and her 17 year-old son will be moving into their single family home this month.

“We looked at condos and townhouses, but they just didn’t lend themselves to our lifestyle. My son is a musician and he plays the drums and keyboards. We really needed a single family home to accommodate his practice schedule,” said Ms. Cooper.

Before starting her search for a new home, Ms. Cooper worked with a county-based housing counselor that helped her with her budget, price range and provided information on the home buyer assistance programs. Ms. Cooper found that she was eligible for two home buyer assistance programs, the Prince George’s County Purchase Assistance Program and Wells Fargo’s Neighborhood LIFT.

The Prince George’s County Purchase Assistance Program provides up to $15,000 toward the down payment and closing cost of the home buyer’s first home or if homebuyer has not owned a home in 3 years. The Neighborhood LIFT program provides up to $20,000 for eligible Prince George’s County residents to purchase their first home. Ms. Cooper was also qualified to receive an additional $2,000 from a third program called Operation HOPE.

“I was very aggressive in my search for a new home. And, when it came time to complete the paperwork to apply for the down payment and closing cost assistance, I had all my paperwork in order,” says Ms. Cooper. “It was a very smooth process. I love the fact that I am walking into a home with equity.”

Date: Tuesday, April 16, 2019, 7:00 P.M.

Council Hearing Room, First Floor

County Administration Building

Upper Marlboro, Maryland 20772

The Annual Action Plan for Housing and Community Development is a comprehensive strategy that describes actions, activities, and programs that will take place during Fiscal Year (FY) 2020 to address priority needs and specific objectives identified in the FY 2016-2020 Consolidated Plan. The FY 2020 Annual Action Plan also serves as an application for the following Federal entitlement funds: Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Program, HOME Investment Partnerships (HOME) Program, and the Emergency Solutions Grants (ESG) Program.

A copy of the FY 2020 Annual Action Plan is available at the Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD) at 9200 Basil Court, Suite 500, Largo, Maryland 20774, the County’s website: http://www.princegeorgescountymd.gov/1039/Plans-Reports, or can be mailed upon request by contacting DHCD at 301-883-5540.

Those wishing to testify at this hearing are invited to telephone the office of the Clerk of the Council, Room 2198, County Administration Building, Upper Marlboro, Maryland, 301-952-3600 TDD 301-925-5267. Free parking and shuttle bus service is available at the Prince George’s Equestrian Center parking lots.

Sign Language for the hearing impaired and interpretive services can be made available. To request these services, contact DHCD at (301) 883-5540 or TTY (301) 883-5428. Additionally, accommodations for disabled persons and visually impaired persons can be provided upon reasonable notice to the Clerk of the Council.

Written comments may also be sent to the Department of Housing and Community Development at 9200 Basil Court, Suite 500, Largo, Maryland 20774. For more information, please contact Community Planning and Development (CPD) Division at 301-883-5540, TDD 301-883-5428.

Prince George’s County affirmatively promotes equal opportunity and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, gender, religion, ethnic or national origin, disability, or familial status in admission or access to benefits in programs or activities.

By Authority of:

Estella Alexander, Acting Director

Department of Housing and Community Development

9200 Basil Court, Suite 500

Largo, Maryland 20774

Date: March 28, 2019