Navigating down payment assistance program applications
What is Home Purchase Assistance Program (HPAP)?
The Home Purchase Assistance Program, known as HPAP, provides low-to-moderate income residents an interest-free, deferred loan for down payments and closing costs. First-time homebuyers can get up to $202,000 in assistance.
For more information about HPAP, you can visit the D.C.’s Department of Housing and Community Development official website.
Information about HPAP
What does applying to HPAP look like?
You must contact a Community-Based Organization (CBO), such as Manna DC, to complete a homebuyer education course and submit your financial documentation for an initial eligibility review.
Once your counselor determines you are eligible, you receive an NOE (Notice of Eligibility) confirming you are now able to move forward with obtaining a pre-approval from your lender.
After you submit your pre-approval letter with all other required documentation, your counselor will complete and submit the HPAP application on your behalf.
When do the HPAP funds become available?
The D.C. Department of Housing and Community Development opens their HPAP applications on October 1st. Funds are distributed in "rounds" through a lottery. Your Manna counselor will notify you when the funds are distributed. After you submit your pre-approval letter with all other required documentation, your counselor will complete and submit the HPAP application on your behalf.
When should I begin my application process?
We recommend you start the application process at least 6 months before you want to buy. Discuss your desired timeline with your Manna counselor. They can help you plan accordingly.
How much funding/assistance does DHCD’s HPAP program provide per household?
The first-time Homebuyer Assistance Table reflects gap financing assistance available for first-time homebuyers of up to $202,000, plus $4,000 for closing cost assistance. The gap financing and closing cost assistance are based on household income and size. (This verbiage has been pulled directly from the DHCD DC website.)
A direct link to the DHCD HPAP Homebuyer Assistance Table (As of June 2025) is provided here.
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Ready to discuss or apply for HPAP?
How can Manna help?
Manna is an official DHCD DC Housing Counseling Agency / Community Based Organization (CBO) and is set up to assist clients in preparing and submitting their applications for the HPAP/NEAHP/EAHP programs. Manna has been working with DHCD DC since 2015 providing housing counseling services to DC’s low- to moderate-income households to provide access to safe, stable and equitable housing.
If you have questions or are ready to get started and are wondering “How do I sign up?” or “What should I do?”
The first steps are to attend the next available Homeownership-101 session and contact a Manna HUD-Certified Housing Counselor to begin your homebuying journey!