News Release - August 15, 2008
Georgia Department of Corrections
James E. Donald, Commissioner
Director of Public Affairs
Joan Heath
Contact: Office of Public Affairs (404) 656-9772
For Immediate Release
Down Payment Assistance Available for Department of Corrections Relocation
Department of Community Affairs Offers Provision to PEN Loan Program
Atlanta – The Georgia Department of Corrections announced today the Department of Community Affairs will be offering a one-time special provision to Central Office staff relocating in conjunction with the Department’s move to the Tift College campus in Forsyth, Georgia. The provision will allow those qualifying employees who currently own a home to use the PEN HomeOwn Program (Public Protectors, Educators and Nurses) to assist with their relocation. Until this exception was approved, current homeowners did not qualify.
The PEN program is designed to provide increased down payment assistance to Georgia’s heroes. Eligible borrowers may borrow $7500 at 0% interest to use toward the down payment, closing costs and other loan related expenses while contributing only 1% of the sales price to the purchase.
“A major component of the Department’s relocation plan is providing incentive to our staff,” said Commissioner James E. Donald. “The PEN Program is one of the best recruitment and retention tools available, and any incentive we can offer to help retain staff is a bonus, not only for us but also for the staff member,” added Donald.
The Program will be offered July 2010 through January 2011 to existing eligible employees. Those employees may purchase a home in Monroe, Bibb, Crawford, Upson, Lamar, Butts, Jones or Jasper County.
“We appreciate the tremendous support from the Department of Community Affairs as we begin to plan for transitioning staff to our new headquarters,” stated Donald.
The Department of Corrections is the fifth largest prison system in the United States and is responsible for supervising nearly 60,000 state prisoners and over 150,000 probationers. It is the largest law enforcement agency in the state with approximately 15,000 employees.
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