DC Employer-Assisted Housing Program (EAHP) for District Government Employees

At a glance

Amount

Up to $20,000 deferred loan plus up to $5,000 matching grant; first responders and educators can reach $45,000

Type of help

Deferred loan

Where

Washington, DC

Run by

DC Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD)

First-time buyer

First-time buyers only

Income limit

None

Homebuyer education

Required

How the deferred loan works

A second loan with no interest and no payment. You repay it when you sell, refinance, or pay off the first mortgage.

• Interest: 0%
• Monthly payment: None
• Forgiveness: Only the extra $10,000 for first responders and educators is forgivable, at the end of five years if you keep the home as your principal residence and complete a five-year service commitment.
• When you would repay: The deferred loan is due when the home is sold or transferred, is no longer your principal residence, or is refinanced with cash out.

Who qualifies

• First-time buyers only. You cannot have owned a principal residence in the District in the past three years. Owning property in another jurisdiction does not disqualify you, but the DC home must become your principal residence.
• Income. No income cap. DHCD states there is no income limit and no cash contribution requirement for EAHP (checked 2026-09-23).
• Only for: government employees, first responders, teachers and educators.
• Participating employers: District of Columbia government, DC Public Schools, DC public charter schools.
• Property types: Single-family, Condo, Co-op. Must be your primary residence.
• Full-time District government employee in good standing with at least one year of service. Good standing means no adverse action by your employer in the past three years.
• The one-year service requirement is waived for police officers, corrections officers, firefighters, emergency medical technicians, paramedics, and teachers in a DC public or public charter school.
• The enhanced grant is for police officers, firefighters, paramedics, EMTs, corrections officers, and (since FY2022) educators, including those who have accepted an offer of employment.
• You do not need to be a DC resident to apply, but the home must be in DC.

How to apply

1. 1Contact a DHCD-funded community-based organization (CBO) before you go under contract. Attend its orientation session and schedule an appointment to complete the EAHP application.
2. 2Complete the eight-hour homebuyer education class through the CBO.
3. 3The CBO forwards your application to the HPAP administrator (Greater Washington Urban League or DCHFA), which issues a Notice of Eligibility stating your maximum assistance and next steps.
4. 4Get pre-approved, find a home in DC, and go under contract. Funds are reserved when your ratified contract and lender package are delivered, not when the Notice of Eligibility is issued.
5. 5First responders and educators claiming the enhanced grant must provide employment verification and sign a five-year service agreement before settlement.

Watch out for

• EAHP is subject to funding availability and shares the District fiscal year that starts October 1. Confirm funds with your CBO when you write an offer.
• The matching grant is earned, not automatic. DHCD matches $1,000 for every full $2,500 of your own non-retirement savings, up to $5,000 (up to $15,000 for first responders and educators). Keep those funds documented in your name.
• The enhanced $10,000 is forgiven only if you stay in the job and in the home for five years. Leave District service early and it becomes a zero-interest loan due when you sell, move, or cash-out refinance.
• The $20,000 loan is deferred, not forgiven. Plan to repay it from sale proceeds.
• If you are also a DC resident, EAHP layers with HPAP. Ask the CBO to process both in one file.

Straight answers

Sources

• DHCD, Employer-Assisted Housing Program (EAHP) service page (read Sep 23, 2026)
• DHCD, EAHP Eligibility, How to Apply and Program Details (read Sep 23, 2026)
• DHCD, EAHP Fact Sheet, May 2024 (PDF) (read Sep 23, 2026)
• Front Door DC, Get help buying a home as a DC Government employee (read Sep 23, 2026)
• DCHFA, Employer-Assisted Housing Program (EAHP) (read Sep 23, 2026)

Program details are summarized from public sources and change without notice. Funding badges reflect the last time we checked, not a guarantee of availability. This is buyer education from a real estate agent, not a loan pre-approval or a commitment to lend. Eligibility is decided by each program administrator and your lender. Equal Housing Opportunity.