Last updated November 2026
Louisiana down payment assistance status, program by program
A snapshot of where homebuyer help in Louisiana stands. We follow 17 programs, and this page shows which are taking applications, which are low on money and the biggest ones still open.
Which open programs offer the most?
| Program | Where | How much |
|---|---|---|
| HERO (Homeownership Expansion and Resilience Opportunities) soft second | Orleans Parish (NORA target areas) | Up to $70,000 soft second, based on documented need and underwriting |
| NORA HERO 'Good Neighbor' first-look priority | Orleans Parish | Up to $70,000 HERO soft second (same as all HERO buyers); the occupational benefit is a 30-day exclusive window to contract |
| First-Time Homebuyer Assistance Program (FTHAP) | Jefferson Parish (including Kenner) | Up to $50,000 in Jefferson Parish; up to $60,000 in Kenner (page warns average awards change yearly) |
| Direct Homebuyer Soft Second Mortgage Assistance Program | City of New Orleans (Orleans Parish) | Up to $55,000 soft second (down payment/gap) plus up to $5,000 closing costs (CDBG pays at most 50% of total closing costs). The page's 'Assistance Available' box shows the two as alternatives ('OR'), while the body text says a buyer may receive both; confirm with OCD. |
| Homebuyer Assistance Program (HAP) | City of Alexandria | Up to $50,000, plus $5,000 more in a Target Neighborhood (max $55,000), for principal reduction, closing costs and up to 50% of the required down payment |
| First Time Home Buyer Down Payment and Closing Costs Assistance Program | City of Lafayette and unincorporated Lafayette Parish | Conflicting: LCG brochure (rev. April 2021) says up to $11,000 as a 2% 15-year second-mortgage loan ($70.79/mo); a 2024 local news report says up to $20,000 as a deferred loan forgiven after 10 years. Confirm current terms with LCG. |
| HAPPI (Home Buyers Assistance Program Participation Initiative) | City of Shreveport (19 targeted HAPPI neighborhoods) | 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 |
| Lafayette Community Development Fund First Time Homebuyers Downpayment Assistance | Lafayette Parish | Up to $8,000 as a 5% 15-year second-mortgage loan ($63.26/mo) |
Ordered by the highest dollar figure each program publishes. Programs paid as a percentage can come out larger on pricier homes.
Which ones are closed or running low?
You can't count on these taking applications today. Ask us to tell you when one opens again.
| Program | Status | Alert |
|---|---|---|
| Direct Homebuyer Soft Second Mortgage Assistance Program | Money may run out | |
| First-Time Homebuyer Assistance Program (FTHAP) | Money may run out | |
| Community Development Initiatives 2026: first-time homebuyer component | Money may run out | |
| First Time Home Buyer Down Payment and Closing Costs Assistance Program | Money may run out | |
| Lafayette Community Development Fund First Time Homebuyers Downpayment Assistance | Money may run out | |
| Down Payment Assistance Program | Money may run out | |
| Homebuyer Assistance Program (HAP) | Money may run out | |
| Home in Monroe | Money may run out | |
| West Monroe Homebuyer Assistance (MAD Grant) | Closed at the moment |
What kinds of help are there?
| Kind of help | How many |
|---|---|
| Forgivable second loan | 5 |
| Other | 5 |
| Deferred loan, due at sale or refinance | 3 |
| Grant, nothing to repay | 2 |
| Loan with monthly payments | 1 |
In Louisiana, most help is a loan of some kind, not a gift. A forgivable loan goes away if you stay put long enough. A deferred loan comes due when you sell or refinance. Figure out what you'd owe if you sold early.
Narrow it down to what fits you
Tell the program matcher your parish and job and it trims this list. From there, a lender sorts out which ones you can really use. No cost, no credit pull.
