Live Near Hopkins
Employer-Assisted Housing Benefit Programs
Live Near Your Work (LNYW) Grant Program
More House 4 Less/House Keys 4 Employees
Live Near Your Work (LNYW) Grant Program
Background:
Since 1997, the Johns Hopkins Health System has worked with the City of Baltimore to provide an Employer-Assisted Housing Benefit Plan called Live Near Your Work. This program enables an eligible employee to apply for financial grants to assist with down payment and closing costs associated with the purchase of their house. The program encourages employees to live near the Hopkins campus, aids in neighborhood stabilization and supports the local community. Cash incentives will be made available to Hopkins employees to live near their work in selected neighborhoods. Prior to receiving a Live Near Your Work grant, employees must receive mortgage approval from their lender. The Program is a partnership between the Johns Hopkins Health System, Johns Hopkins University, Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development and Baltimore City. For more information on how to apply for this Program, please contact Alicia Lewis at 410-614-6504. A Live Near Hopkins packet including explanation of these programs and application is available at the HR Service Center, Phipps 4th floor.
Benefits to Employees:
- Offers employees the opportunity to own a home
- Reduces stress and costs caused by long commutes
- Stabilizes local neighborhoods through increased homeownership
Grant Amount from JHH
- $1,500 area closest to JHH (see map in packet); or
- $1,000 area surrounding JHH,
plus - $1,000 City Grant
The number of grants available on an annual basis are limited and will be distributed on a first-come, first-served basis.
Employee Eligibility:
To participate in the Employer-Assisted Housing Benefit Plan/Live Near Your Work Grant Program, employees must meet the following requirements:
- Benefit eligible
- Be in good standing
- Provide at least $1,000 towards down payment or closing costs
- Reside in the home purchased as your primary residence for one year
- Purchase a home within the Hopkins LNYW target area (see map in packet)
- Complete a survey at settlement
- Agree to attend housing counseling
- Accept only one grant per household
Target Area:
For employees of the Johns Hopkins Health System, including The Johns Hopkins Hospital, Johns Hopkins Bayview Medical Center, Johns Hopkins Community Physicians and Johns Hopkins Home Care Group, the program target area includes a variety of communities, particularly neighborhoods located in the southeast sector of Baltimore City.
NOTE: Application for this grant does not guarantee that a grant will be awarded.
1. Review information packet and familiarize yourself with the forms you must complete.
2. Contact one of the housing agencies on the list. These agencies are key to this program and you must make an appointment with one of them. They will determine whether you meet the usual criteria for home ownership. If you do not, they can advise you on how to become eligible and how to buy a home. This service is free to you. The housing counselor can assist you if you have questions.
3. Contact a real estate agent and select a home in the target area.
4. Complete the application packet and return it to your Human Resources Department contact (faxed documents will not be accepted):
- Live Near Your Work Application
- Good Faith Estimate (typed)
- A commitment letter
- Name of the title company, contact person, address and phone number
- Proof that the buyer has invested $1,000
Johns Hopkins Health System Corporation/The Johns Hopkins Hospital
Alicia Lewis, Human Resources
600 N. Wolfe Street, Phipps 455
Baltimore, MD 21287
Phone: 410-614-6504
5. Copies of the following should be mailed to the Live Near Your Work contact (faxed documents will not be accepted):
- Live Near Your Work Application
- Housing Counseling certificate
- Proof that employee has invested $1,000
- Typed and signed mortgage loan application (#1003), all 4 pages
- Contract of sale (executed by both parties)
- Good faith estimate (typed)
- Name of the title company, contact person, address and phone number
- Final mortgage loan commitment letter (must be Fannie Mae/Freddie Mac approved lender)
Office of Homeownership
Debra P. Braxton
417 E. Fayette Street, Suite 125
Baltimore, MD 21202
Phone: 410-396-3124
6. After settlement, the settlement company will need to mail or fax the following information to the Live Near Your Work Contact:
- Copy of settlement Sheet stating that the grant was received
- Verification of minimum $1,000 contribution by employee
- Copy of the hazard insurance coverage
More House 4 Less/House Keys 4 Employees
In addition to the Live Near Your Work (LNYW) Grant Program that primarily offers financial assistance in Baltimore City, there are additional assisted programs offered through the Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development.
These programs are called:
- More House 4 Less (MMP Loan)
- Downpayment and Settlement Expense Loan Program (DSELP)
- House Keys 4 Employees (HK4E)
If you wish to purchase your home using the assistance available under these programs, you must use a lender that has been approved by the Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development (a list of approved lenders is in the More House 4 Less information packet).
If you are eligible for these programs, in addition to the LNYW grant, you may be eligible for the following financial assistance:
LNYW Grant $1,000
JHHSC/JHH Grant $1,500 ($1,000 in non-target area)
HK4E $2,500 ($2,000 in non-target area)
DSELP Loan $5,000____________________
Total potential financial assistance $10,000
For more information on how to apply for this Program, please contact Alicia Lewis at 410-614-6504. A Live Near Hopkins packet including explanation of these programs and application is available at the HR Service Center, Phipps 4th floor.
