"We were so happy to be a part of this program," said Messenheimer. "We were really happy that it came out in the timing that we needed." The Operation Welcome Home program provides zero down payment and competitive rate loans with fewer restrictions than the VA loans for veterans, reservists, National Guard members and surviving spouses of service members killed in action. The $100 million loan program also protects service members if they're re-deployed. "If they're called to active duty and deployed, it will help make their mortgage payments while they're deployed and tide them over, help bridge that financial gap until they come back home and are again fully re-employed," said MassHousing Executive Director Tom Gleason.