For NY buyers who used a down payment assistance program: was it worth the hassle?

Looking into first-time buyer assistance in the NYC/Long Island area and trying to figure out if it's realistic or more trouble than it's worth. The programs advertise real money toward down payment and closing costs, but they come with income limits, education courses, occupancy rules, and in some cases first-come-first-served funding. For anyone who's actually gone through one: did the assistance come through cleanly, did it slow down your closing or complicate your offer, and would you do it again? Trying to decide whether to build my timeline around one or just move without it.