Baldwin County Opens Applications for Homeownership Assistance Program For Residents Impacted by Hurricanes Sally and Zeta

Sep 21, 2026, 10:12 by Taylor Bufkin

Baldwin County is launching its Homeownership Assistance Program (HAP), a new program designed to help income-qualified residents impacted by Hurricanes Sally and Zeta achieve safe, stable homeownership. During the Baldwin County Commission meeting on Aug. 18th, the County announced the opening of the HAP application portal will be on September 21, 2026. The application link will be available on the Baldwin County website, baldwincountyal.gov/departments/grants/cdbg-dr/hap, on launch day.

Baldwin County is partnering with Family Promise of Baldwin County to administer the program and work directly with participating homebuyers, providing guidance, education and support throughout the application and homebuying process.

The county will host two public meetings to provide residents and community partners with aid in submitting applications at the following:

1. Tuesday, September 15, 2026, at 5 p.m. at the Baldwin County Foley Satellite Courthouse, Large Meeting Hall, 201 E Section Ave, Foley, AL 36535; and

2. Wednesday, September 16, 2026, at 10 a.m. at the Baldwin County Fairhope Satellite Courthouse, County Commission Chambers, 1100 Fairhope Avenue, Fairhope, AL 36532.

HAP is part of Baldwin County’s ongoing recovery and resiliency efforts following Hurricanes Sally and Zeta. The program is designed to make homeownership more attainable for eligible residents while supporting long-term housing stability and helping families remain in or return to the communities they call home.

HAP assistance may include:

● Down payment assistance of up to 20%

● Interest rate buy-downs and principal write downs

● Eligible closing cost, inspections, appraisals, surveys and legal services

● Initial home warranty premiums

● Homebuyer counseling and case management

Households earning 80 percent or less of Area Median Income (AMI) may be eligible if they meet one of the following criteria: Baldwin Co. residents who lived in the county during Hurricanes Sally and Zeta and remained in the county; previous residents who relocated after storms and wish to return; and/or individuals who were in the process of purchasing a storm-impacted home at the time of the disaster.

Interested residents can learn more about eligibility requirements and begin the application process

by visiting baldwincountyal.gov/departments/grants/cdbg-dr/hap. For more information, email or

call Family Promise.

About the CDBG-DR Program

The State of Alabama was awarded CDBG-DR funding from the U.S. Department of Housing and

Urban Development (HUD) to support the state’s recovery from the 2020 Hurricanes, Sally and

Zeta. As part of the state’s damage and needs assessment, Baldwin County was identified as a most

impacted and distressed area and was awarded funding through the Alabama Department of

Economic and Community Affairs (ADECA) CDBG-DR Action Plan.