The Baltimore City Live Near Your Work Program is a partnership between employers and the City of Baltimore. The purpose of the program is to provide direct financial assistance for eligible employees' first home purchase in Baltimore city. It is designed to encourage homeownership near the place of employment, where there are diverse neighborhoods offering a variety of home styles. In essence, the program is designed to strengthen community revitalization with purchase incentives for continued neighborhood and economic vitality.

The Baltimore City Live Near Your Work Program will provide a minimum $2,000 grant or conditional grant to employees for settlement and closing costs to purchase homes in targeted neighborhoods near their employers. Baltimore City will contribute $1,000 per employee, which will be matched by the participating employer. Employees will be required to contribute a minimum of $1,000 cash toward the purchase of their home.

Both the Baltimore City Office of Homeownership and employers have the right to create eligibility requirements and program benefits, as well as program restrictions, for their employees. All eligibility requirements and program benefits must comply with applicable laws and fulfill the purpose and objectives of the Baltimore City Live Near Your Work Program. As a Baltimore City-sponsored incentive program, buyers are required to attend City-approved homeownership counseling. For a list of eligible counseling agencies, click here. The funds are disbursed on a first-come, first-served basis.

Employers must apply and be approved to participate in the Baltimore City Live Near Your Work Program. It is required that each employer provide matching grant funds, and define the designated boundaries, which must be within Baltimore City limits. The employers are also responsible for accepting employee applications, verifying employment and determining the eligibility requirements for the program.


> Click here for a list of participating employers



If you are interested in adding Live Near Your Work to your company's employee benefits package, have the human resources or benefits manager contact Debra Braxton at (410) 396-3124 or debra.braxton@baltimorecity.gov .