The City of New Rochelle has expanded its Down Payment Assistance Program (DPAP), to include those former city residents who lived in the city for at least two years. It is believed this would broaden participant eligibility and increase access to homeownership opportunities with connections to the city. The program expansion started on May 14.
The eligibility for DPAP participation has historically included current New Rochelle residents with a minimum of 12 months permanent residency, but the new expanded criteria will allow current workers, business owners, and former residents of New Rochelle to participate in the program.
The expanded DPAP eligibility now includes individuals with certifiable full-time employment that requires reporting to a work location within the City of New Rochelle for at least two years, or ownership of a business located in New Rochelle. The new DPAP eligibility also welcomes former New Rochelle residents who lived in the city for at least two years, as evidenced by verifiable proof of prior residence such as previous tax returns, utility bills, bank or credit card statements, and school transcripts, to participate in homeownership in New Rochelle.
DPAP provides up to 19% of a home’s purchase price to eligible first-time homebuyers purchasing within New Rochelle, helping to reduce one of the most significant barriers to homeownership.
The city will host two upcoming informational events to help prospective applicants learn more about the eligibility requirements and the application process. The first session will be held in English on Monday, June 1 and the second session in Spanish on Thursday, June 4. Both events will be held at New Rochelle City Hall, 515 North Ave., New Rochelle, from 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. Register for the DPAP information sessions here.
Thursday’s expanded eligibility expansion reflects the city’s ongoing commitment to supporting those who live, work, learn, and invest in New Rochelle by making it easier to establish long-term roots in the community. It also underscores the city’s focus on retaining the next generation of leaders by creating pathways to homeownership for former students and residents.
“Today’s expansion of the Down Payment Assistance Program is not just about broadening eligibility, but about giving more people the opportunity to put down roots and build a meaningful future through accessible homeownership,” said Mayor Yadira Ramos-Herbert. “As a mother of two, I understand and value the importance of a home where your family can grow and thrive. By investing in homeownership, we are investing in stronger families, stronger neighborhoods, and a stronger city.”
Council Member Shane Osinloye believes the program will promote long-term housing stability in the city.
“As we respond to the demands of our New Rochelle neighbors for housing affordability, I’m pleased to express my enthusiastic support for this timely expansion of the Down Payment Assistance Program,” said Council Member Shane Osinloye. “Also, as a lifelong resident of multi-family housing in New Rochelle, I strongly advocated for the new eligibility criteria to include people who formerly lived here, especially those who attended local schools and had to move away for various reasons, but now have a chance to return and realize the dream of homeownership.”
This expansion builds on the city’s broader efforts to invest in homeownership opportunities and housing diversity, including through the proposed amendments to the Downtown Overlay Zone (DOZ) and the continued development of Stella Phase II, a 100 percent affordable downtown condominium, slated to launch its lottery this year.
“The expansion makes homeownership in New Rochelle more accessible to the people who live, work and help power our city,” said Adam Salgado, commissioner of development. “This expansion is about more than housing; it’s about strengthening our workforce, supporting local businesses, and creating new pathways for people to put down roots and invest here.”
