Eligibility and Parameters

Red brick row homes

To be eligible for the UMB Live Near Your Work (LNYW) Program, you must meet all of the following conditions

  • You are a regular full- or part-time (50 percent FTE or more) faculty or staff employee of the University of Maryland, Baltimore (UMB) who is in good standing.
  • The home being purchased must be within the targeted neighborhoods of Barre Circle, Druid Heights, Franklin Square, Heritage Crossing, Hollins Market, Mount Clare, Pigtown/Washington Village, Poppleton, and Union Square.
  • You have completed a homeownership counseling program provided by a U.S. Housing and Urban Development-certified housing counselor before signing a contract for sale.
  • Creditworthiness.
  • Minimum homeowner down payment contribution of $1,000.

UMB LNYW grant is not available to the following parties:

  • Part-time employees with less than 50 percent FTE.
  • Contractual employees. 
  • Postdoc fellow
  • Employees who are not in good standing.
  • University of Maryland Medical Center employees.
  • Employees purchasing homes outside of the initiative’s target neighborhoods.
  • UMB undergraduate or graduate students.

Parameter and Restrictions

Please review the following parameters and restrictions that must be followed when using UMB’s Live Near Your Work (LNYW) Program:

  • One LNYW grant per household/address.
  • The LNYW grant is considered a taxable benefit. For more details, see our FAQs or contact the LNYW coordinator. 
  • An application to the LNYW Program does not guarantee that a grant will be awarded.
  • Grants are available for homes purchased within the target areas identified by the UMB LNYW initiative.
  • Final approval and disbursement of funds is contingent upon the timely receipt of the documents required by the city of Baltimore and UMB.
  • If the employee is applying for additional incentives, the employee must abide by the requirements of those entities.
  • False statements or materials omissions made by an employee on, or in connection with, an application for a LNYW Program grant can result in denial of the grant, repayment of any grant funds received by the employee, and disciplinary action up to and including termination.

As you prepare to purchase a home in one of the qualifying neighborhoods, we encourage you to review their current demographics and statistical information. These can be viewed through our community
partners at the Southwest Partnership and Live Baltimore.

Am I Eligible for Live Near Your Work?


  • Are you a UMB faculty or staff member?
    Yes
    No
  • Are you considered a regular full-time or part-time (50% FTE or more) employee of UMB?
    Yes
    No
  • Have you or another member of your household already utilized a LNYW grant?
    Yes
    No
  • Do you plan on purchasing a home within one of the program’s qualifying neighborhoods (Barre Circle, Druid Heights, Franklin Square, Harlem Park, Heritage Crossing, Hollins Market, Mount Clare, Pigtown/Washington Village, Poppleton, Union Square, Upton)?
    Yes
    No
  • Can you make your newly purchased home your primary residence for at least 5 years from the date of settlement?
    Yes
    No
  • Have you ever or are you willing to complete a HUD-certified homeownership counseling program?
    Yes
    No
  • Are you able to contribute a minimum of $1,000 to the home's down payment?
    Yes
    No

See If You Qualify