JACKSON, Mich. — Applications for the City of Jackson's 100 Homes Program closed on Monday, marking the final day for eligible homebuyers to seek down payment assistance through a city-backed initiative aimed at expanding homeownership and encouraging new residential construction.
City officials said the July 6 deadline applied to the current application cycle because program funds must be committed during 2026. The initiative provides eligible buyers with $25,000 in down payment assistance to build homes on city-owned lots, with additional incentives available for selected properties in the Martin Luther King Jr. Corridor.
Under a partnership with the Martin Luther King Jr. Corridor Improvement Authority, approved applicants choosing eligible lots could qualify for an additional $30,000 in assistance, bringing total city support to as much as $55,000. Buyers may also be eligible to pursue separate assistance through the Michigan State Housing Development Authority, according to the city.
The 100 Homes Program, launched in October 2023, is designed to increase the supply of owner-occupied housing by facilitating construction on vacant city-owned properties. City officials previously said the program had approved 79 applicants, with homes either under construction or progressing through site planning, leaving additional spaces available before the application period ended.
Jackson Mayor Daniel Mahoney has said the city used federal American Rescue Plan Act funding to address one of the biggest barriers to homeownership by providing down payment assistance. He said the program combines newly built homes with financial support intended to make ownership more attainable for qualifying buyers.
Local business leaders have also said the initiative could help retain residents by expanding opportunities for first-time homebuyers. Alexie Milukhin of the Jackson County Chamber of Commerce said the availability of homeownership opportunities could encourage more people to remain in the community and invest locally.
The city has described the current application period as the final opportunity to establish eligibility before construction timelines and funding requirements for 2026 conclude. Assistance tied to the MLK Corridor partnership is limited and awarded on a first-approved, first-served basis until available funds are exhausted, according to city information.
With the July 6 deadline now passed, city officials are expected to process submitted applications and continue work with approved participants as homes move through planning and construction under the program.
