In partnership with U.S. Bank, Freedom Alliance helps post 9/11 combat veterans achieve the American Dream of home ownership by providing mortgage-free homes. For those who have sacrificed so much, it's a place of hope and promise and an opportunity to begin anew.
The following is a series of Protocols relating to the Heroes to Homeowners program:
Goal of Program
The Heroes to Homeowners program, run by Freedom Alliance, is aimed at helping certain U.S. Combat Veterans (“Candidates”) to become homeowners and enjoy the benefits of home ownership.
Eligibility for Program
1. Candidates are U.S. military combat veterans who served in the Global War on Terror (post 9/11/2001).
2. Candidates must be honorably discharged from the military.
3. Candidates must have 80% or higher disability rating from the VA.
4. Candidates must complete the application for consideration and provide all requested documentation.
5. Candidates must be willing to relocate to accept the available home selected.
6. Candidates may not currently own a home.
7. While not a requirement for application, preference will be given to applicants who have received individual valorous awards for their service, the Purple Heart Medal, and / or combat specific awards such as the Combat Infantryman Badge, Combat Action Badge, and others.
Application for Consideration
Candidates must provide complete and honest responses to requests found in the Application for Consideration.
Proper documentation provided in support of the Application for Consideration includes those documents necessary to confirm military service, medical history, injuries, and family status and family history, including DD-214, disability rating from Veterans Administration, or other documents requested.
Among other things, completion of the Application for Consideration authorizes Heroes to Homeowners to complete a credit history, criminal background check, social media checks, or other background checks.
Candidates will meet with member(s) of the Heroes to Homeowners program committee to review the application and documentation if requested. Candidates will be interviewed by Freedom Alliance, or its authorized representative, for consideration by the program.
Completion of the Application for Consideration does not guarantee acceptance to the Heroes to Homeowners program. Acceptance into the Heroes to Homeowners program does not guarantee home ownership through the program. Acceptance merely means that the service member has been pre-screened and approved to enter the Heroes to Homeowners program and be considered to receive a home, should one become available and other criteria be met.
Freedom Alliance is committed to providing an environment that is free from discrimination and conduct that can be considered harassing, coercive, or disruptive, including sexual harassment.
Freedom Alliance will work with banks, lending institutions, and other groups to find a home suitable to the needs of the Candidate, but cannot guarantee that a suitable match will be made or that the Candidate will otherwise be selected.
Two-Year Lease of Residence
If a Candidate is accepted into the Heroes to Homeowners program, Freedom Alliance shall lease a property to the Candidate for up to a two-year period.
The property must be the Candidate’s primary residence. The Candidate shall not assign, sub-lease, or permit others not approved by Freedom Alliance to reside in the property.
During the lease period, the Candidate shall pay rent of $1 per month (payable in one lump sum at the beginning of the lease period).
Candidate’s lease of the property is premised on evaluating the Candidate for potential home ownership. Thus, Candidate shall be responsible for all maintenance and repair of property, in addition to all fees, insurance, costs, taxes, and utilities related to property. Candidate shall be responsible for obtaining and paying for renter’s insurance. Freedom Alliance shall be responsible for obtaining and paying for property or other insurance.
Prior to accepting lease of property, Candidate shall be entitled to a walk-through, inspection, or certification of property condition.
Representative of the Heroes to Homeowners program shall be entitled to perform inspections of the property. Refusal to allow inspection of the property and/or the results of inspection will be a factor for considering whether to award full deed of the property to the Candidate.
During the lease period, the Candidate shall participate in a counseling program (whether of a family, financial, or other nature) if deemed necessary by Freedom Alliance.
The Candidate shall not commit any act that indicates dishonesty or moral turpitude or that otherwise could materially injure the reputation of Freedom Alliance or the Heroes to Homeowners program.
Evaluation Following the Lease Period
When all terms and conditions are successfully met during the two-year lease term, Freedom Alliance will consider whether to award the full deed of the property to the Candidate. At that time, the Candidate is eligible to be submitted for consideration for full ownership of the property.
Factors for consideration include, but are not limited to, the following:
§ Candidate’s compliance with terms of the lease agreement
§ Candidate’s criminal or arrest record (both pre- and post-occupancy)
§ Candidate’s ability to remain drug-free (both pre- and post-occupancy)
§ Candidate’s refrain from overuse of alcohol
§ Candidate’s financial stability
§ Candidate’s ability to maintain property
§ Candidate’s ability to serve as an ambassador for or representative of the Heroes to Homeowners program
If the obligations, terms, and conditions of the two-year Lease Period are not met, Freedom Alliance may extend the term of the lease with mutually agreed terms and conditions or may terminate the lease and require occupant to vacate the home within 30 days.
Terms of Transfer of Deed
If selected to receive the full deed of the property, Candidate shall accept all legal and financial obligations associated with the property. Candidate shall continue to occupy the property as her or his primary residence.
If selected to receive the full deed of the property, Candidate shall then maintain the property as a primary residence for no less than three years from the date of the deed. Should Candidate violate this covenant, the property shall revert to Freedom Alliance.
At the end of the three-year term after the award of the deed, if obligations, terms, and conditions are met, the covenant shall expire and Candidate shall own the property free of all obligations to or interest by Freedom Alliance.