Mateo Savedra didn’t always see himself owning a home—at least not this soon. But after hearing from a friend about Port Huron’s
Urban Pioneer Program, the high school teacher realized homeownership might be more within reach than he thought.
“I figured I might as well give it a shot,” he says, speaking from the back porch of his new home on 18th Street. “It really did the difference for me.”
In March 2024, Savedra became a homeowner thanks to the $10,000 in down payment assistance he received through the Urban Pioneer Program, which is designed to support low- to moderate-income, first-time buyers in the city. For him, the support meant not only closing on the house but also setting himself up for the future.
“I think it’s going to help me build wealth and put me in a pretty good spot financially when I’m ready to start a family,” he says.
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Port Huron's Urban Pioneer Program is helping folks buy a home in Port Huron, like Savedra.
The Urban Pioneer Program has quietly assisted more than 1,000 households in purchasing homes in Port Huron over the past two decades. It’s part of a broader effort by the city to support residents—especially renters—on the path to long-term homeownership and equity building.
“Half of our housing stock in Port Huron, roughly, is rental,” says Jazmyn Thomas, deputy planning director. “This program gives low- to moderate-income households who are often coming from a rental or shared housing situation an opportunity to become homeowners—something they wouldn’t otherwise have.”
To qualify, buyers must be pre-approved for a mortgage, meet HUD income limits, not have owned real estate in the past three years, and meet Urban Pioneer guidelines. The home must be a single-family residence located within the city limits of Port Huron. After five years of living in the home as a primary residence, the $10,000 loan is forgiven.
“When it first started, it was $5,000,” says Urban Pioneer Facilitator Roxanne Sears. “That stayed in force until 2022, when we increased it to $10,000.”
Sears emphasizes that the program isn’t focused on drawing people in from outside the city—it’s about helping people who are already in the area. “It’s designed to assist people who want to buy a home, can make monthly mortgage payments, but may not have the savings for a down payment and closing costs,” she says.
Savedra had been considering an apartment but realized monthly rent would be nearly equal to a mortgage. With steady income and a long-term commitment to the city, buying made more sense. He contacted the city, submitted paperwork, and was soon approved.
“If I had to fill out some paperwork and talk to people just to get $10,000, that’s not a bad tradeoff,” he says. “It made everything much easier.”
Participants are also required to complete a HUD-certified first-time homebuyer education course through
Blue Water Community Action, the only HUD-approved housing counseling agency in St. Clair County. The four-hour webinar walks buyers through budgeting, financing, and the responsibilities of homeownership.
“They do the class,” says Sears. “We don’t run it—we just require proof that the person completed it. We rely heavily on Blue Water to help create informed, prepared buyers.”
Homes purchased through the program must meet housing quality standards. The city performs an inspection, and if repairs are needed, sellers can receive reimbursement up to $1,500 to address them. Buyers must also be pre-approved for a mortgage, which Thomas and Sears say is one of the biggest barriers.
“We often get calls from people with poor credit asking how they can become homeowners,” says Sears. “But if they can’t get approved for a mortgage, there’s nothing we can do to assist.”
On average, Port Huron receives about $200,000 per year in federal HOME funding to support the program. In addition, community partners like Huntington National Bank have provided extra grant funds to help stretch the impact. Right now, qualifying buyers may receive an additional $5,000 grant—for a total of $15,000 in support.
“They could literally come to the table and not put any money into the transaction if they’re buying a home under $165,000,” says Sears. “The money that allows us to do this came from Huntington National Bank, and we’re thankful for their investment into Port Huron.”
For Savedra, the Urban Pioneer Program offered not just a way into a home, but a sense of stability.
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Mateo Savedra inside his home in Port Huron.
“I don’t have to worry about landlords or living above someone else,” he says. “And if I ever move or want a bigger home, I know I’ll be able to sell this one for more than I bought it for.”
He’s already invested time and energy into making improvements and says the home was appraised for more than his purchase price even before renovations.
“This gives me and my future family a way to be comfortable when that time comes,” he says.
He also sees homeownership as an essential piece of economic mobility. “Buying a home, having a home—it’s linked to building generational wealth. Unless you inherit it, this is how families grow and become financially secure.”
And that’s exactly what the Urban Pioneer Program was built to support.
“I’d recommend this to anybody who plans on being in Port Huron for a long time,” Savedra says. “It really helped me. It changed my life.”