Allegheny County is reloading its 1st Home Allegheny program with a fresh $3 million pot of money, aiming to steer more low- and moderate-income residents into their first homes outside the City of Pittsburgh. The initiative, which debuted as a pilot in 2025, helped 56 households cross the threshold into homeownership across 34 different municipalities and drew notably strong participation from women and Black-led households.
County Executive Sara Innamorato, in a statement to WESA, celebrated the relaunch, saying, "I'm so proud that Allegheny County is bringing this program back for a second year and an increased investment of $3 million to help even more first-time homebuyers." The outlet reports that about half of the participating households in the pilot were led by women, nearly 45 percent were Black-led, and Black women headed 36 percent of those households, a demographic breakdown county officials have been quick to highlight.
How the program works
According to Allegheny County, Round 2 of 1st Home Allegheny offers forgivable, 0 percent interest loans in amounts of either $45,000 or $10,000 to help cover down-payment and closing costs. The county lists a 15-year term for these loans, with forgiveness building gradually over time based on how long the buyer remains in the home. The Allegheny County Residential Finance Authority holds a subordinate mortgage on the property, and the structure includes a modest origination fee.
Who qualifies
As reported by WESA, eligible applicants must be first-time buyers who have not owned a home in the past three years, secure pre-approval for a primary mortgage and complete a HUD-certified homebuyer education course. Income caps shift with household size; for a family of four, the higher $45,000 assistance level is available up to $85,850 in annual income, while the $10,000 option is open to households earning up to $123,395.
Local lenders and rollout
Local banks are key to turning the county’s subsidy into actual home keys. Dollar Bank says it originated more loans than any other participating lender during the pilot phase and notes that the county expects to reopen and expand the program in May 2026, including lender and realtor listening sessions. Dollar Bank describes the model as pairing traditional private mortgage financing with a public down-payment boost so families can buy and stay in homes across Allegheny County.
How to apply
Round 2 is already live. The county instructs prospective buyers to start by securing pre-approval with a participating lender, then completing the required HUD counseling and program application. For lender contact information, full program guidelines, and step-by-step application details, interested buyers can head to the 1st Home Allegheny page on the Allegheny County website.
