California lawmakers OK bill offering migrants homeownership aid

A contentious plan that would let some immigrants living in the US illegally to obtain first-time homebuyer loans was approved by the California Senate on Tuesday. Assuming Assembly Bill 1840 is signed into law, immigrants may be eligible to apply for a lottery that would offer them up to 20% assistance with a down payment or up to $150,000 toward closing costs. The California Dream For All Shared Appreciation program, the state’s first-time homebuyer loan program, would now be open to migrants who now reside in the state if AB 1840 is signed into law. Not every immigrant would be eligible for the program; applicants must be able to prove they pay taxes and present either a Social Security number or a taxpayer ID. The loan program was first designed to assist those with low and moderate incomes in purchasing homes. It was introduced last year.