City of Shreveport (19 targeted HAPPI neighborhoods)
Shreveport HAPPI homebuyer assistance in 19 neighborhoods
First-time buyers at or below 80% of area median income who buy a home in one of Shreveport's 19 HAPPI neighborhoods can get up to 20% of the lower of the sales price or appraised value.
HAPPI (Home Buyers Assistance Program Participation Initiative)
Taking applications
City of Shreveport (19 targeted HAPPI neighborhoods)
Help available
Up to 20% of the lesser of sales price or appraised value, depending on AMI; the 2017 program document caps it at $10,000 for existing homes and $20,000 for new construction
Who it's for
First-time homebuyers (no title in 3 years) at or below 80% AMI buying a primary residence in a HAPPI neighborhood
Income cap
80% AMI (HUD, City of Shreveport; the linked AMI chart is dated 2022)
Only for first-time buyers?
Yes
Also worth knowing
Homebuyer education for applicant and co-applicant; HAPPI-approved lender (2025 list); no HUD/VA/repossessed or manufactured homes; HUD property standards. Uses: down payment, closing costs, prepaids, principal reduction, rate buy-down.
Catholic Charities partnership announced December 2025 (KTAL). Caps come from a January 2017 document and may have changed. Contact 318-673-5900.
HAPPI, the Home Buyers Assistance Program Participation Initiative, is run by the City of Shreveport Department of Community Development. The award is a percentage, up to 20% of whichever is lower, the sales price or the appraised value, and the exact share depends on your income relative to AMI. A January 2017 program document caps assistance at $10,000 for existing homes and $20,000 for new construction. Those caps may have changed, so ask the City for the current figures.
The money is flexible. It can go toward the down payment, closing costs, prepaids, principal reduction or a rate buy-down.
Eligibility in Shreveport
You must not have held title to a home in the past three years, your income must be at or below 80% AMI on the City's HUD chart (the linked chart is dated 2022), and the home must be your primary residence inside one of the 19 targeted neighborhoods. Both the applicant and any co-applicant take homebuyer education. The first mortgage comes from a HAPPI-approved lender on the 2025 list. HUD-owned, VA-owned and repossessed homes are excluded, as are manufactured homes, and the property must meet HUD standards. See the Caddo Parish guide for local employers and state limits.
HAPPI with HomeStart Advantage or CAFA
Caddo Parish buyers can also use LHC's HomeStart Advantage or CAFA First Home as the first mortgage. Neither program's materials say whether HAPPI layers behind them, so a participating lender confirms whether they combine. One detail stands out: LHC does not allow buy-downs on its HomeStart loans, so the rate buy-down use of HAPPI money may not be available if your first mortgage is an LHC loan. The other uses would still need lender confirmation.
How to start
Since December 2025, Catholic Charities of North Louisiana has handled outreach and homebuyer classes for the program, so a class is a natural first step. Check that the address you want falls inside a HAPPI neighborhood, choose a lender from the approved list, and call Community Development at 318-673-5900 with questions. Our guide to common DPA mistakes helps you avoid delays, and you can check your eligibility first.
What people ask about HAPPI (Home Buyers Assistance Program Participation Initiative)
How much does Shreveport HAPPI pay?
Up to 20% of the lower of price or appraised value, depending on income. A 2017 document caps it at $10,000 for existing homes and $20,000 for new construction; confirm current caps with the City.
Can I use HAPPI anywhere in Shreveport?
No. The home must be in one of the 19 targeted HAPPI neighborhoods.
Who teaches the HAPPI homebuyer class?
Catholic Charities of North Louisiana handles outreach and homebuyer classes under a partnership announced in December 2025.
Summarized from the program's official page as of November 2026. Funding and rules can change, so confirm the current terms with the program or a lender who takes part. Louisiana Down Payment Assistance has no connection to this program.
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