WASHINGTON — First responder groups across the country are renewing their call for the passage of the HELPER Act, legislation that would make it easier for first responders and teachers to buy homes in the communities they serve.
The Homes for Every Local Protector, Educator, and Responder (HELPER) Act — formally known as H.R. 2094 — was reintroduced in Congress in March. The bill would create a home loan program under the Federal Housing Administration (FHA), eliminating down payment and mortgage insurance requirements for eligible first-time homebuyers, including law enforcement officers, firefighters, EMS providers and educators.
What is the HELPER Act and how would it help first responders?
Under the HELPER Act, qualified applicants would be able to purchase a home with a $0 down payment and no monthly mortgage insurance, removing some of the biggest barriers to homeownership for public servants.
Supporters say the bill could improve recruitment and retention efforts by helping first responders live closer to the communities they serve, reducing commute times and fostering stronger ties with residents.
“The HELPER Act is a game-changer for public safety professionals,” said Columbus Fire-EMS Chief Salvatore J. Scarpa. “By eliminating upfront home purchase costs and monthly mortgage insurance premiums, this legislation provides much-needed relief for those who dedicate their lives to protecting others. Owning a home in the communities we serve should not be an unattainable dream but a reality, and this bill makes significant strides toward that goal.”
What would the HELPER Act do for first responders?
If passed, the HELPER Act would establish a new home loan benefit under the Federal Housing Administration (FHA) — available only once per eligible applicant — and provide direct financial assistance to make buying a home more feasible.
Specifically, the bill would:
- Create a one-time-use home loan program through the FHA for law enforcement officers, firefighters, EMTs, paramedics and teachers
- Eliminate the down payment requirement
- Remove monthly mortgage insurance premiums (MIP)
- Require an upfront mortgage insurance premium (UFMIP) to ensure the program’s financial health
To qualify, applicants must be full-time employees of a federal, state, local, or tribal agency or school and first-time homebuyers. The purchased home must be a one-unit residence (including eligible condos or manufactured homes) and serve as the buyer’s primary residence.
Bipartisan support growing for the HELPER Act in 2025
Bipartisan support for the bill is growing in both chambers of Congress. In the House, the bill was reintroduced by U.S. Representatives Bonnie Watson Coleman (D-N.J.), John Rutherford (R-Fla.), Josh Gottheimer (D-N.J.) and Andrew Garbarino (R-N.Y.). In the Senate, companion legislation was introduced by Senators Jon Ossoff (D-Ga.) and Ashley Moody (R-Fla.), a former circuit judge and federal prosecutor now serving as Florida’s attorney general.
“The HELPER Act is a crucial step in supporting the brave men and women who serve as police officers, firefighters, EMTs, paramedics and teachers — workers who are struggling to afford their first homes despite their dedication to our communities. This legislation helps make homeownership more accessible for these critical public servants and provides local governments with an important tool to recruit and retain them,” Samuel P. Royer, the original champion behind the HELPER Act and founder and president of Salute Home Loans, said in a March 14 press release.
National and state organizations back the HELPER Act
According to Rep. Rutherford’s office, the HELPER Act has earned endorsements from major organizations, including:
- Fraternal Order of Police (FOP)
- International Association of Fire Fighters (IAFF)
- International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP)
- International Association of EMTs and Paramedics (IAEP)
- Major County Sheriffs of America (MCSA)
- National Troopers Coalition (NTC)
- Federal Law Enforcement Officers Association (FLEOA)
- American Association of State Troopers
- International Union of Police Associations
California Highway Patrol joined the growing list of supporters earlier in March. In a letter of support dated March 19, California Association of Highway Patrolmen (CAHP) President Jake Johnson highlighted the recruitment and retention challenges faced by the California Highway Patrol (CHP), emphasizing that the HELPER Act would facilitate affordable housing for law enforcement professionals to reside in the communities they serve.
“The CAHP firmly believes H.R. 2094 will provide affordable housing for law enforcement professionals to live where they work and will function as one of the solutions for the recruitment and retention problem,” Johnson stated.
In Florida, Sen. Moody echoed that sentiment, saying in a press conference that the HELPER Act would ease housing challenges for law enforcement officers struggling to find affordable housing near their duty stations.
National Fraternal Order of Police President Patrick Yoes highlighted the challenges officers face in affording housing within the communities they serve, stating, “For many agencies, the inability of officers to find housing near the communities they serve is a significant challenge, and the loan program created by this bill would be an important step to addressing this issue.”
Yoes further emphasized, “Too often, officers and other first responders are priced out of the very neighborhoods they are sworn to protect. When police officers can live where they work, public safety improves, and communities are better off.”
In a March 10 letter, International Union of Police Associations President Sam A. Cabral expressed strong support for the legislation, stating that the HELPER Act would make homeownership more affordable for law enforcement officers, firefighters, EMTs, paramedics and teachers. He noted that the bill recognizes their sacrifice by “providing access to affordable housing, enabling them to care for their families while continuing to serve their communities.”
Will the HELPER Act pass in 2025?
Originally introduced in 2021, the HELPER Act gained early bipartisan interest but did not make it out of committee. The legislation was reintroduced in 2023 during the 118th Congress, again drawing support from law enforcement and education groups — but it stalled before reaching a vote.
Now in 2025, with renewed momentum, expanded bipartisan sponsorship and vocal support from national first responder organizations, advocates are hopeful this could be the year the bill finally becomes law.
