ORANGE COUNTY, Fla. — Finding affordable housing has been a challenge not just for Floridians, but Americans across the country.

According to the National Association of Realtors, the median price of a home in the U.S. rose to a new high of more than $391,000 last month. That's an increase of nearly 15% compared to the same time last year.

Local real estate agents are still trying to find the exact words to describe the drastic changes.

“This market is fascinating,” said Paul Fedynich with VIP Home Team and Heroes Housing.

On Monday, Gov. Ron DeSantis announced the $100 million Florida Hometown Heroes Housing program, which will launch on June 1. 

The money has been set aside to help ease the burden for frontline community workers who are trying to buy a house.

It’s something Fedynich believes could help relieve the stress of many.

“Especially in this market, the way that it’s been," he said. "The battle that they’ve had to face to be able to get into those homes."

Fedynich has over 20 years of experience in the real estate industry and these last few have been dedicated to helping those in need of affordable housing.

When he thinks of the current state of the housing industry, the people he helps assist come to his mind.

Fedynich said he has seen the many challenges people can face when trying to purchase a home. The ones he works closest with are community leaders.

“What can we do to give back to the community?" he said. "And we stumbled across Scarlett with Heroes Housing.”

Scarlett Roger started the Heroes Housing Foundation in 2015.

Her husband was a firefighter for 30 years and together they made it their mission to help those who serve their communities.

“Especially in COVID,” she said. “We had way more people that needed assistance than we ever thought when we started the foundation, if that makes sense.”

Eligible frontline workers would be provided down payment and closing cost assistance to the first-time, income-qualified homebuyers with this new program launched by the state.

Both Fedynich and Roger believe the Florida Hometown Heroes Housing program could make a huge difference for those in need.

“The affordability for our first responders, or our local heroes who all showed up for us when everything was falling apart, has been breaking my heart to see so many of them not be able to obtain homeownership,” Roger said.

Educators, child care employees, and active military or veterans are all eligible for this new program, along with first responders.