Joplin Homebuyers Assistance Program reaches $1 million level

(From the City of Joplin)

The City of Joplin’s Joplin Homebuyers Assistance Program (J-HAP) program officially reached the $1 million level of financial assistance for local homebuyers this past week, offering support to individuals and families who wish to purchase a home in the recovery area. Launched August 10, 2013 by the City to help support single-family housing recovery following the May 2011 disaster, J-HAP has received a high level of interest from public, with 105 J-HAP Applications approved and 38 J-HAP Closings completed to date.

The public is invited to stop in to the J-HAP Program office to learn more about the program and meet the J-HAP team. It will be open tonight during the City of Joplin’s Third Thursday Event on March 20, 2014. Located at 531 S. Main Street, is directly on the primary Third Thursday route. If not able to stop by this evening, the office is open Monday through Friday and would welcome interested visitors. For further details please call 417-850-2249.

The City of Joplin would also like to announce the transition of our J-HAP partner administrator. As of February 17, 2014, Nan McKay & Associates (NMA) assumed the J-HAP administrative duties previously performed by Economic Security Corporation of the Southwest Area (ESC). NMA has been a national provider of professional services and program management to the affordable housing industry since 1980. NMA has provided homeownership program consulting and training to dozens of public housing authorities across the country. In addition, NMA administers the second-largest homeownership program in the nation, working with 377 families, on behalf of a large agency in the Midwest. NMA possesses extensive experience in: promoting program enrollment, holding program briefings for applicants and community stakeholders, performing housing inspections, determining program eligibility, and monitoring program compliance. CEO John McKay states, "We are honored to work with the City of Joplin on the J-HAP program. NMA has long been a proponent of HUD-assisted homeownership programs. We look forward to helping the deserving families of Joplin find affordable homes in support of the continued recovery."

The Joplin Homebuyers Assistance Program (J-HAP) has been implemented to assist eligible homebuyers with down-payment and/or closing costs. Funding assistance for this program is being provided by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, through a Community Development Block Grant – Disaster Recovery (CDBG-DR) award, which was received as a result of the May 22, 2011 tornado.

J-HAP is not limited to first-time homebuyers or to those affected by the tornado, although there are certain federal requirements that must be met to be eligible for the use of this J-HAP funded forgivable loan. Joplin residents and others interested in moving to Joplin can learn more about the J-HAP qualifications and guidelines by logging onto the City’s CDBG-DR website under the J-HAP information link at www.joplinmo.org/cdbg-dr. Individuals who have additional questions or who are interested in applying for the J-HAP should call the J-HAP Program Office at 417-850-2249 to schedule an appointment. A J-HAP Application Packet may obtained by submitting a request to the J-HAP Program Office by e-mail at jhap@nanmckay.com or in person at 531 S. Main Street, Joplin, MO 64801.

Frequently asked questions (FAQs) are available within the J-HAP information link at www.joplinmo.org/cdbg-dr. We encourage all potential applicants, agents, lenders, and builders to please refer to the FAQs, or contact the J-HAP Program Office with any questions, or concerns at 417-850-2249.