Housing Assistance for Teachers

In rural Mississippi there exists a critical shortage of qualified teachers. In order to move Mississippi forward, our children must have the benefits of a quality education.

In response to this need, the Mississippi Legislature passed the “Mississippi Critical Teacher Shortage Act of 1998”, which offers attractive incentives for qualified teachers.

The Housing Assistance for Teachers Program (HAT) was designed to assist with funding to help teachers buy homes. Making homeownership easier will certainly encourage teachers to move to these shortage areas.

Eligible Residential Counties

CountySchool District
AdamsNatchez-Adams SD
AmiteAmite County SD
AttalaAttala County SD
Kosciusko SD
BentonBenton County SD
BolivarNorth Bolivar Consolidated SD
West Bolivar Consolidated SD
CalhounCalhoun County SD
CarrollCarroll County SD
ChickasawChickasaw County SD
Okolona Separated SD
ChoctawChoctaw County SD
ClaiborneClaiborne County SD
ClarkeQuitman SD
CoahomaCoahoma County SD
Clarksdale Municipal SD
Clarksdale Collegiate
CopiahCopiah County SD
Hazlehurst City SD
CovingtonCovington County SD
DesotoDesoto County SD
ForrestForrest County SD
Forrest County Agricultural High School
Hattiesburg Public SD
GreeneGreene County SD
GrenadaGrenada SD
HancockBay St. Louis Waveland SD
HarrisonHarrison County SD
Pass Christian Public SD
HindsHinds County SD
Smilow Collegiate
Re-imagine Prep
Jackson Public SD
Clinton Public SD
Midtown Public
Smilow Prep
Ambition Prep
Revive
HolmesHolmes County Consolidated SD
HumphreysHumphreys County SD
JacksonMoss Point SD
Jackson County SD
JasperEast Jasper SD
JeffersonJefferson County SD
Jefferson DavisJefferson Davis County SD
JonesLaurel SD
KemperKemper County SD
LafayetteLafayette County SD
LauderdaleMeridian Public SD
Lauderdale County SD
LawrenceLawrence County SD
LeakeLeake County SD
LeeLee County SD
LefloreGreenwood-Leflore Consolidated SD
Leflore Legacy
LowndesColumbus Municipal SD
MadisonCanton Public SD
MarshallMarshall County SD
Holly Springs SD
MonroeAberdeen SD
NeshobaUnion Public SD
Philadelphia Public SD
NewtonNewton Municipal SD
NoxubeeNoxubee County SD
OktibbehaStarkville-Oktibbeha Consolidated SD
PanolaNorth Panola SD
South Panola SD
Pearl RiverPicayune SD
Pike North Pike Consolidated SD
South Pike SD
McComb SD
PontotocPontotoc City Schools
PrentissBaldwyn Public SD
Booneville SD
QuitmanQuitman County SD
ScottForest Municipal SD
SharkeySouth Delta SD
SimpsonSimpson County SD
SmithSmith County SD
SunflowerSunflower County Consolidated SD
TallahatchieEast Tallahatchie Consolidated SD
West Tallahatchie Consolidated SD
TateTate County SD
Senatobia Municipal SD
TippahNorth Tippah Consolidated SD
South Tippah SD
TishomingoTishomingo County SP Municipal SD
Tunica Tunica County SD
UnionNew Albany Public SD
WarrenVicksburg Warren SD
WashingtonHollandale SD
Leland SD
Western Line SD
Greenville Public SD
WayneWayne County SD
WebsterWebster County SD
WilkinsonWilkinson County SD
WinstonLouisville Municipal SD
YalobushaCoffeeville SD
Water Valley SD
YazooYazoo County SD
Yazoo City SD

HATlogo_2020

Who is eligible:

  • Applicants who agree to render service as a teacher in the district for three years starting with the beginning of the school year
  • Applicants meeting the credit eligibility requirements of FHA, VA, RD Guaranteed, Fannie Mae or Freddie Mac

Program Requirements:

  • 25 or 30-year fixed loan rate
  • FHA, VA, RD Guaranteed, Fannie Mae or Freddie Mac
  • Credit score dependent upon LTV
  • Mortgage Insurance required (depending on LTV)

Features of the HAT Program:

  • Grant assistance is forgiven if the approved licensed teacher satisfies a required executed Loan Agreement. The Loan Agreement requires the applicant to be employed for a period of no less than three (3) years in a school district where a critical shortage of teachers exist. Your participating lender has access to this document.
  • MS Dept. of Education assistance will cover the amount of borrower funds needed to close on a home up to and not to exceed $6,000.
  • MS Dept. of Education assistance can be used to cover required down payment (less borrower’s 1% required contribution), borrower paid closing costs, prepaid expenses, and Mortgage Insurance, if applicable, depending upon the amount of additional down payment paid over the required amount (contact your lender).
  • Homebuyer(s) must provide a minimum down payment from one’s own funds of 1% of the sales price and one month’s reserves.  Reserves requirement may be gifted from a relative, but not the 1% down payment contribution.
  • No income limits unless using with another MHC loan product (see other program guidelines).
  • Residential property must be located within the county where the teacher is employed and is designated by the MS Department of Education as a critical shortage school district.
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