As home prices continue to climb across Miami-Dade County, a new county initiative is giving eligible working families a chance to get into newly constructed homes through a public lottery.
The Miami-Dade Economic Advocacy Trust (MDEAT) announced the launch of Welcome H.O.M.E. (Housing Opportunities Made for Everyone), a program designed to create a more accessible path to homeownership for residents who may otherwise struggle to afford a home in the county’s increasingly expensive housing market.
The program, created in partnership with JL Brown Development Corporation, will offer eligible applicants the opportunity to purchase one of three newly constructed homes. Applicants who meet the program’s requirements will be entered into a public lottery that determines their order of selection.
“For too long, the opportunity to build wealth through homeownership has been out of reach for many Miami-Dade families,” MDEAT Executive Director Bill Diggs stated in a news release. “Welcome H.O.M.E. is designed to provide hardworking residents with a pathway to ownership, stability, and long-term financial security.”
How the program works
Applications will be accepted online from Sept. 1 through Sept. 30, 2026, or until MDEAT receives 200 qualified applications, whichever comes first.
There will be no paper applications, and only one application is permitted per household.
Applicants must meet several requirements, including:
- Intending to use the home as their primary residence
- Having a household income below 140% of the Area Median Income (AMI)
- Submitting only one application per household
Once qualified, applicants will be entered into the public lottery and ranked from No. 1 through No. 10.
The top six applicants will then have an opportunity to qualify for the purchase. If one of the top three applicants is unable to qualify within the designated period, the next applicant on the list will be contacted.
The program also includes down payment assistance and flexible financing support intended to help eligible buyers move toward sustainable homeownership and build generational wealth.
Information sessions coming this month
Before applying, prospective homebuyers are encouraged to attend an information session to learn about the program, eligibility requirements and application process.
The first session will be held in person Thursday, Aug. 20, from 6 to 8 p.m. at JL (Joe) and Enid W. Demps Park, 11350 SW 216th St. in Miami.
A second session will be held virtually Wednesday, Aug. 26, from 6 to 8 p.m.
Registration details and additional information about Welcome H.O.M.E. are available through MDEAT’s program page.
For Miami-Dade residents who have watched home prices move further beyond what local wages can comfortably support, the program offers another potential route toward ownership, with a lottery determining who gets the first shot at the available homes.
Applications open Sept. 1 and will remain open until Sept. 30 or the first 200 qualified applications are received.
This is a Hy-Lo News Staff Report.
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