West Monroe offered a grant of up to $25,000 in 2026 through a state Make a Difference award. That round is closed, so here's where buyers stand.
Is West Monroe's homebuyer grant still taking applications?
No. In March 2026 the City of West Monroe began taking applications for homebuyer assistance of up to $25,000 for eligible first-time buyers, paid as a grant. The money came from a Make a Difference award, a CDBG program run by the Louisiana Office of Community Development's Local Government Assistance division, rather than from a standing city fund. Applications were due May 1, 2026, so that round is over. Because a Make a Difference award is a one-time grant to the City, there's no promise of another round; if one opens, the City posts its policies and online application on its website. The Mayor's Office (318-396-2600) is the place to ask. Our information comes from a local news report, as the City's own page wasn't reviewed.
For a buyer looking at West Monroe today, the open options are parish-wide and statewide. CAFA First Home covers Ouachita Parish with a 30-year fixed bond mortgage and 4% of the loan as a 0% second that begins forgiving after three years; it waives the first-time rule for veterans and targeted census tracts. The LHC HomeStart programs are the alternative, and you choose one first mortgage or the other. The City of Monroe's Home in Monroe program stops at Monroe city limits, so it won't apply in West Monroe.
West Monroe Police officers, Ouachita Parish School System teachers and others in public service can read the who-qualifies pages to see whether occupation rules in the state programs help them. The Ouachita Parish guide has the income and price limits, and the eligibility check puts you in touch with a lender who knows both bond programs.
What does West Monroe offer on its own?
West Monroe Homebuyer Assistance (MAD Grant)
Closed at the moment
City of West Monroe
Help available
Up to $25,000 down payment assistance
Kind of help
Grant, nothing to repay
Who it's for
Eligible first-time homebuyers
Only for first-time buyers?
Yes
Also worth knowing
Policies and online application on cityofwestmonroe.com
The application deadline was May 1, 2026, so the current round is closed. Source is a news report; the city page was not fetched. Mayor's Office 318-396-2600.
61 Louisiana parishes (all except Orleans, Jefferson and a few others)
Help available
4% of the total note amount for down payment, closing costs, prepaids or Realtor commission, with a 30-year fixed FHA/VA/USDA first mortgage
Kind of help
Forgivable second loan
Who it's for
First-time homebuyers; waived for veterans (DD-214, one-time use) and targeted census tracts
Income cap
Effective 05/01/26, non-targeted: $84,900 (1-2) / $97,635 (3+) in most parishes, up to $107,700 / $123,855 in St. Tammany; targeted areas: $101,880 / $118,860 up to $129,240 / $150,780
Price cap
$544,233 (1 unit, non-targeted); $665,173 (targeted)
Only for first-time buyers?
Yes
Also worth knowing
0% 5-year second: no forgiveness in months 1-36, then 1/24 forgiven each month. Homebuyer education for all buyers on title. Min FICO 620 (640 US Bank).
Guide published 05/13/26, rev. 07/20/26; program page https://thecafa.org/homebuyers/cafa-first-home (shows 7% government rate). This is a separate bond first mortgage: choose CAFA OR LHC HomeStart, not both. Essentially a second regional/statewide option with income and price limits close to LHC HomeStart Assist.
On top of local programs, West Monroe buyers can use 1 programs that cover all of Louisiana, HomeStart Advantage (formerly Keys for Service) among them. Browse every Louisiana program or try the program matcher.
Where can you take a homebuyer class near Ouachita Parish?
Nearly every assistance program wants you to finish a homebuyer class before you close. These HUD-approved agencies are within reach of Ouachita Parish and offer classes or one-on-one counseling before you buy:
Counseling agency
Located in
How far
Offers
Meets you
Languages
Mount Pleasant Community Development Corp. Inc
Monroe
3 mi
Class and coaching
in person / by phone
English
Taken from HUD's list of approved counseling agencies. Programs differ on which classes they accept.
Which class will count for you? Ask the loan officer handling your file. They know which courses each Louisiana program accepts, and they can get your pre-approval going in the same conversation. Start the check
West Monroe questions we hear
When was the West Monroe MAD grant deadline?
May 1, 2026. Applications opened in March 2026, and the round is now closed.
How much was the West Monroe homebuyer grant?
Up to $25,000 in down payment assistance for eligible first-time buyers, funded by a Louisiana OCD Make a Difference CDBG award.
What can West Monroe buyers use now?
CAFA First Home (4% forgivable second with a bond-rate mortgage) or a statewide LHC HomeStart loan. Home in Monroe doesn't cover West Monroe.
Got it. You're on the list.
We'll reach out when it reopens. Curious what you could use right now?
Hey there, I'm Denise. See if you're eligible for down payment assistance in Louisiana. It's a handful of questions and maybe two minutes of your time.
