***Editor’s note: A previous version of this story listed the Region XII Regional Housing Authority as the source of the assistance program. Region XII Council of Governments administers the program, and the story has been updated to reflect this correction.***
The Carroll County Board of Supervisors will reinvest clawed-back funds from a Region XII Council of Governments housing assistance program to provide additional down payment assistance to qualifying homebuyers in the county. Housing Programs Coordinator Karla Janning says one of their previous recipients did not complete their required residency period, so over $11,000 is returning to the program.
Janning says the supervisors have three options. They can offer the funds as down payment assistance as a forgivable loan, as they did previously, reallocate the money to the housing trust fund, or designate the funds to qualifying home rehabilitation projects via an advantaged loan. Janning notes they are routinely contacted by people interested in the down payment assistance program, and Supervisors Scott Johnson and Gene Meiners say that seems like the quickest and easiest option to see the funds used.
Supervisors Mark McCrea, Stephanie Hausman, and Mike Andersen agreed with that, and the board voted unanimously to reinvest the funds into the down payment assistance program to add another application slot. To be eligible, the recipient must be a first-time homebuyer and meet income eligibility guidelines. Individuals are encouraged to reach out to Janning at Region XII by phone at 712-775-7825 or email at kjanning@region12cog.org to determine if they qualify.
