CCG Spotlight: Baldwin County Homeownership Assistance Program
Baldwin County Advances Long-Term Housing Recovery Through New Homeownership Assistance Program
As Baldwin County continues rebuilding from the impacts of Hurricanes Sally and Zeta, local leaders are moving from recovery planning to program implementation with plans for a new Homeownership Assistance Program that would expand access to affordable housing and support long-term community resilience.
A key milestone in that effort came in March when Baldwin County hosted a virtual training session for lenders, realtors, title companies, and housing partners to prepare for the rollout of the program. Civix Consulting Group (CCG) partnered with the County to support development of the program and deliver training focused on eligibility requirements, award calculations, program processes, and partner coordination.
“Launching a successful recovery program requires more than funding. It requires clear guidance, strong coordination, and informed local partners who understand how the program works and how to help residents navigate the process,” said Angie Traill, Project Manager at CCG and one of the presenters for the training. “This training was designed to help lenders, realtors, and housing partners understand eligibility requirements, award calculations, and their respective roles within the program so they can confidently support residents pursuing homeownership opportunities in Baldwin County.”
Once approved, the Homeownership Assistance Program will be funded through the Community Development Block Grant-Disaster Recovery (CDBG-DR) program and will be part of Baldwin County’s broader Local Recovery Plan developed by the County with CCG’s support following the 2020 storms. The program is intended to help disaster-impacted, low-to-moderate income households overcome affordability barriers and remain in Baldwin County amid rising housing costs and ongoing housing recovery challenges.
The training focused on equipping local housing partners with the tools and information needed to help residents successfully navigate the process from application through closing. The session outlined:
- Program eligibility requirements
- Housing counseling and case management services
- Award calculations and affordability standards
- Coordination between lenders, realtors, housing counselors, and County partners
- Program processes and documentation requirements
Under the program, eligible households may receive up to $85,000 in forgivable assistance to fund down payments, closing costs, inspections, legal services, and other eligible home purchase expenses. The assistance is structured as a forgivable second mortgage with no monthly payments or interest accrual for qualifying homeowners who maintain primary occupancy and stay current on taxes and insurance during the five-year affordability period.
Beyond financial assistance, the program incorporates homeownership education, and case management support designed to help residents achieve long-term housing stability.
“Lenders and realtors will play an important role in helping residents understand and navigate the application process,” Baldwin County Grants Director Brian Underwood said in a press release announcing the training.
As Baldwin County prepares to launch the program, the training marked an important step toward ensuring local housing partners are ready to connect eligible residents with critical recovery resources and expand pathways to sustainable homeownership.
The work reflects Baldwin County’s broader strategy to leverage federal recovery funding not only to address immediate needs, but also to support more resilient and sustainable recovery outcomes for residents and communities.
CCG’s partnership with Baldwin County began during development of the County’s Local Recovery Plan, which included unmet needs analysis, stakeholder engagement, program strategy development, and planning for approximately $44 million in anticipated CDBG-DR funding from HUD through the Alabama Department of Economic and Community Affairs (ADECA).
The County’s integrated approach toward planning and implementation aligns with CCG’s broader work supporting communities nationwide through the full lifecycle of disaster recovery grants, from planning and program design to implementation, compliance, and closeout.