Housing Trust Silicon Valley has launched a program designed to help moderate and middle-income earners make down payments on homes. Called the Homebuyer Empowerment Loan Program, or HELP, the funds are initially targeted at those looking to buy homes for up to $800,000 throughout Santa Clara County, as well as in East Palo Alto and Menlo Park in San Mateo County, according to an article in the Mercury News. If the program proves successful, the Housing Trust tells the newspaper it may expand. To capture potential buyers who earn healthy salaries but still can’t get into the housing market, the trust will make loans to households earning up to 140 percent of the area median income. For a family of four in Santa Clara County, the median income is $113,300. Under HELP,, a family of four could earn up to $158,620 and still be eligible for down payment assistance.
