busracavus/istock
The first family to benefit from Santa Rosa’s Down Payment Assistance Loan (DPAL) program have settled into their new home. The DPAL program helps low-to-moderate income families achieve homeownership by offering low-interest loans for down payments. After giving assistance to eight families, the program is currently closed to new applications, but it has already provided nearly $500,000 in 3-percent interest, deferred payment loans towards the down payment on a first-time home.