Washington Initiative to Support Homeownership (WISH)

It is everyone's dream to own their own home someday, and we at the Washington Housing Authority would like to help make that dream become a reality. How? You may ask. Well, the Washington Housing Authority has partnered with the City of Washington to create the Washington Initiative Supporting Homeownership (WISH) program. This program is designed to help our tenants leave behind the days of paying rent and move forward to homeownership. It may seem like a hard and difficult goal to achieve, but it is not.

Like everything, there are a few guidelines, but it's nothing that can't be done without the guidance of our Family Self-Sufficiency Coordinator. If you choose to participate in the program, you will have the opportunity to repair your credit, receive down payment assistance, and so much more. 

This is a wonderful partnership with the City of Washington, and we looked forward to assisting you in the Washington Initiative to Support Homeownership (WISH).

Please click here for the Homeownership Application.

Background

The Washington Housing Authority (WHA) has served the City of Washington and Beaufort County since 1961. As of 2021, WHA serves over 1,000 residents in the City of Washington and Beaufort County, ensuring the most vulnerable have access to safe, decent, sanitary, and affordable housing. These residents reside in our Low-Income Public Housing (LIPH) or participate in the WHA Housing Choice Voucher (HCV) Program. As one of the largest providers of low-income affordable housing in the area, the WHA created a viable partnership with the City of Washington to expand homeownership within the City of Washington and Beaufort County.

The Washing Initiative to Support Homeownership (W.I.S.H)

Homeownership has been the vehicle used to build wealth in our country since its inception. However, there are groups of people that have been historically unable to gain access to the dream of homeownership. WHA is seeking to change this narrative for the families we serve.

Homeownership has been the vehicle used to build wealth in our country since its inception.  However, there are groups of people that have been historically unable to gain access to the dream of homeownership.  WHA is seeking to change this narrative for the families we serve. 

W.I.S.H 

The WISH program would assist families that participate in the WHA Housing Choice Voucher program and Low-Income Public Housing Program with the following:

• Credit Repair
• Down payment assistance
• Rehabilitation
• Home repairs for existing homeowners on the HCV program (to keep families living in safe and decent housing)

Benefits of Homeownership

The benefits of homeownership for the families that we serve:

1. Breaking the cycle of poverty; provides a pathway out of poverty.
2. Building generational wealth
3. Creates a sense of pride within the family and in the communities in which they live.

The benefits of homeownership for the City of Washington:

1. Expands existing tax base.
2. A tangible investment into promoting affordable housing for the most vulnerable population in the City of Washington.

Funding

WHA remits annually Payment In-Liue of Taxes (PILOT) in the amount of 40,000-50,000. WHA is asking the City of Washington to match these funds annually to assist with the funding of the WISH program. WHA would request the match to be remitted to the agency annually in January.