The city of Lake Charles is partnering with the Louisiana Housing Corporation to adapt an existing program to help city employees purchase a home.

LHC’s Keys for Service Program was originally created for Louisiana’s essential workers. It offers forgivable down payment and closing cost assistance for homeowners. The service makes the home-buying process more affordable and accessible for borrowers.

Mayor Nic Hunter said at the announcement on Tuesday hat the partnership will “piggyback” off of the existing program to provide down payment and closing cost assistance for city employees who are purchasing property within city limits.

Employees who have worked for the city of Lake Charles for one full calendar year can benefit from up to four percent or $10,000 in assistance, whichever is less, on a first-come first-serve basis.

In the current economic climate, purchasing a home can be a challenge, he said.

“Mortgage rates are higher than they were years ago, but even more damaging than that is the cost of insurance.

“So at this juncture in time, anything we can do outside the box, anything we can do to think creatively about how to get people to that dream of home ownership, we have to do it.”

LHC Executive Director Kevin Delahoussay called the partnership a “great opportunity” for city employees.

“I think the people that are going to benefit from this will be a blessing for these people,” he said. “We just look forward to working with the mayor and your council and making people’s dreams come true.”

The program requires approval from the council, which is set to take place at the meeting on Wednesday, March 5.To learn more about Keys for Service, visit www.lhc.la.gov/keysforservice.