By Natalie Morales
Enquirer staff writer

COVINGTON - The city is trying to entice its workers to become homeowners in the community.

City officials have begun the Employer-Assisted Housing initiative by offering city workers up to $7,000 in financial assistance.

Using funding the city received from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, the project aims to increase the amount of city homeownership by firefighters, police officers, municipal workers and teachers, Mayor Butch Callery said.

City officials hope to help 50 to 60 families buy Covington homes by using $450,000 they received from HUD's "Home" program, said Aaron Wolfe-Bertling, Covington Housing Development Director.

The project's opening announcement was hosted at the home of Nick and Jodi Klaiss, a Covington police officer and teacher, respectively. The couple grew up in Covington.

Jodi Klaiss said that living in the same neighborhood as her students gives her a better perspective on their lifestyles.

"Bringing people into the neighborhood is not only about increasing the homeownership, but also about having city employees and public safety officials and teachers readily available and active in the community and close to their jobs," Wolfe-Bertling said.

The city hopes the project will be an incentive not only for current employees, but also new employees to be attracted to the area, he said.

Employees who earn less than 80 percent of the area's median income will be considered to receive funding, while employees who earn more than 80 percent still can receive homebuyers' credit counseling through the city, said Andrew Isaacs, Fannie Mae senior deputy director. Fannie Mae, a private, shareholder-owned company that works with lenders, will offer orientation sessions for all eligible employees.

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