To address this challenge, the Miami-Dade Economic Advocacy Trust (MDEAT) partnered with JL Brown Development Corp. to launch the Welcome H.O.M.E. program.
How the Selection Process Works
The initiative uses a randomized lottery system to select candidates for three newly constructed homes.
While the houses are not free, selected applicants can receive up to $150,000 in down payment and closing cost assistance.
Eligibility is capped at 140% of the Area Median Income, which was $89,800 for the Miami area in 2026.
Current Application Status
The top six randomly ranked candidates receive a 60-day window to secure mortgage financing for the properties.
If a candidate fails to qualify within that timeframe, officials contact the next applicant on the ranked list.
Demand was immediate, and applications closed after quickly reaching the 200-applicant limit.
The Local Market Context
A joint report by Realtor.com and the National Association of Realtors revealed that the Miami metro area scored just 67% on listing-income alignment.
This score highlights a severe, ongoing shortage of affordable listings across all income tiers in South Florida.
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