JACKSONVILLE, Fla. -- "The fence is falling apart. It's in disrepair. The lawn is usually un-mowed," said Kevin McKenny.
Kevin McKinney says the house next door has looked like it was falling apart since he moved-in in December. "It's obviously unoccupied, and unsightly," he said.
But a new program hopes to help change that. Wells Fargo is giving the City of Jacksonville millions through their NeighborhoodLIFT program to help put families into vacant homes and help others repair theirs.
"It puts them on the tax roll. We'll have more people paying taxes," said Mayor Alvin Brown.
"A home is more than just a house and a mortgage. It's where you raise your family. It's where you have your dog. It's where you have your life," said CEO of Family Foundations, Dawn Lockhart.
Families who qualify can get up to $15,000 for a down payment. But they don't just get grant money. They also get counseling to help them through the process.
"We really want to make sure we get families to buy the proper homes and make sure they can keep it," said Lockhart.
Wells Fargo is even holding a free home buyer event at the Prime Osborn Convention Center July 27th and 28th where people can find out if they qualify.
"I think the neighborhoods need it, and it's a step in the right direction," said McKinney.
Wells Fargo hopes to help more than 700 families through the NeighborhoodLIFT program.
