Baldwin County, Ala. — (GSN) — The Baldwin County Commission has officially announced the launch of the Homeownership Assistance Program (HAP). Designed specifically to support households affected by Hurricanes Sally and Zeta, the program aims to bolster long-term housing recovery and resilience across the county.

Financial Support to Bridge Coverage & Affordability Gaps

Disaster recovery following major hurricanes often places substantial financial pressure on local families. In many instances, private insurance claims or initial relief packages fail to cover the full cost of storm damage and housing recovery. As a result, income-qualified residents frequently face steep affordability gaps that prevent them from purchasing or maintaining safe, stable housing.

To alleviate these financial burdens, HAP provides targeted financial assistance to bridge the gap between what families can afford and actual home purchase expenses. Eligible program funds can be applied toward:

• Down Payment Assistance: Coverage of up to 20% toward a home down payment.
• Closing Cost Coverage: Funding for essential upfront fees, including property appraisals, home inspections, land surveys, and legal services.
• Mortgage & Rate Relief: Assistance with interest rate buy-downs and principal write-downs.
• Home Warranties: Payment of initial home warranty premiums.

Eligibility Criteria

To qualify for HAP financial assistance, applicants must meet the following criteria:

• Income Limits: Household income must have been 80% or less of the Area Median Income (AMI) at the time of the storm events.
• Residency History: Applicants must have resided in Baldwin County during Hurricane Sally or Hurricane Zeta.
• Relocation & Disaster Recovery Status: Residents who relocated after the storms and wish to return, as well as individuals who were in the process of purchasing a storm-damaged home during the disasters, are also eligible.

Application Opening & Public Meetings

The official application portal for the Homeownership Assistance Program will open on September 21, 2026, on the Baldwin County website.

To guide community members through the application process and answer program questions, the Baldwin County Commission will host two public information meetings:

Tuesday, September 15, 2026

5:00 PM

Foley Satellite Courthouse (Large Meeting Hall)

201 E Section Ave, Foley, AL 36535

Wednesday, September 16, 2026

10:00 AM

Fairhope Satellite Courthouse (Commission Chambers)

1100 Fairhope Ave, Fairhope, AL 36532

Administration and Funding Partners

The Homeownership Assistance Program is funded by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) through Community Development Block Grant – Disaster Recovery (CDBG-DR) funds, distributed via the Alabama Department of Economic and Community Affairs (ADECA).

Family Promise of Baldwin County has been selected as the administrative provider for the program. In addition to overseeing program applications, Family Promise will provide comprehensive homebuyer counseling and personalized case management services to assist buyers throughout their homeownership journey.