Planning Department

RC Programs & Services

Rural Community Development Initiative (RCDI) is a Federal grant awarded to the Southwest Georgia Regional Commission (RC) and is a combination of Federal dollars and the matching funds contributed by the RC.

The RCDI grant will allow the RC to assist eligible local governments and nonprofits agencies by enhancing their capacity and ability to undertake projects related to housing. The program provides three years of training and technical assistance to local governments and nonprofits. Communities who wish to participate must meet eligibility requirements. For more information regarding the grant or eligibility requirements, please contact the RC at (229) 522-3552.

Housing Needs Assessments are conducted by the RC for various communities who are beginning to work on housing in their communities or who are interested in knowing “what’s on the ground”. The Assessment includes a survey, classification and description of the houses in a neighborhood or target area along with a photograph of each unit. The photographed units are classified as standard, substandard or dilapidated based on external housing conditions. A comprehensive survey on the condition of the internal housing conditions may also be conducted.

The information collected is mapped using Global Positioning System (GPS) technology and aerial photography. This information and photograph are linked with the GPS points on the map so that details regarding the unit are displayed along with a photograph. Using this assessment, a housing plan or strategy can be developed that will allow communities to concentrate their initial efforts in the areas of greatest need.

Single Family Development Program

The RC provides technical assistance in the development of the Single Family Development Housing Application.

Community Development Block Grant (CDBG)

The RC provides technical assistance in the development of CDBG applications for the local governments within our fourteen county region.

Community Home Investment Program (CHIP)

The RC provides technical assistance in the development of CHIP applications for the local governments within our fourteen county region.

Southwest Georgia Housing Task Force

Southwest Georgia Housing Task Force is an initiative of the Regional Partners Network, a nonprofit (501 (c) 3) organization of the Southwest Georgia Regional Commission formed in 2000. The Task Force is an initiative of the Regional Partners Network, which is the largest collaborative network in Southwest Georgia. The mission of the Southwest Georgia Housing Task Force is to identify and provide affordable housing solutions through community partnerships for all residents in Southwest Georgia. The partnership consists of about 16 regional housing stakeholders that are interested in expanding the quantity of affordable housing and finding solutions to affordable housing issues. For more information about the Regional Partners Network, please contact the Southwest Georgia Regional Commission (RC). Housing Fairs/Homebuyer Seminars are conducted by communities in partnership with Southwest Georgia Housing Task Force. The goal of the housing fairs and seminars is to increase awareness of housing programs available to potential homeowners. The fairs/seminars are provided in collaboration with employers, local governments, chambers, banks, mortgage companies, credit counseling agencies and other agencies that might provide services to first-time homebuyers. The workshops are free and open to the public.

Housing Conferences are conducted annually by the Southwest Georgia Housing Task Force and its partners in communities throughout the region. The conference aim is to increase the community’s knowledge of housing resources and bring affordable housing to rural areas. The workshops provide potential homeowners with information and resources on housing and provide City and County governments, Developers, Nonprofit/For Profit organizations and other interested agencies information on available housing resources. Participants leave the workshop equipped with tools to “jump start” housing projects in their local communities. All workshops are open to the public for a nominal fee. Sponsorships are welcomed to defray the cost of conference expenses.

On-Site Housing Fair may be held in partnership with employers (e.g., on an employer’s work site to that employer’s personnel), a church or faith-based organization, professional real estate organization, home builders association, chamber of commerce, or other organization. These fairs are conducted on site by request and are very beneficial to employees because they bring the resources and programs right to them. Employees are allowed to visit the fair during their breaks and lunch to gain valuable information about available housing resources and housing programs. If more detailed information is needed, employees can make appointments or get information for follow-up contact.

Grant writing Workshops are conducted annually to provide attendees with an overview of the funding research process and how to seek grants from foundations, corporations, and grant making public charities. The workshop covers fundraising readiness, identifying potential funders, key components to writing a funding proposal, and additional resources for effective fundraising.

Housing Resources

First Time Homebuyers Down Payment Assistance is funded in part by a grant from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. The Georgia Department of Community Affairs has contracted with local agencies such as Consumer Credit Counseling (Albany, GA), Albany Economic and Community Development (Albany, GA) and Redemption Ministries (Thomasville, GA) to provide individual home buyer counseling services. The counseling is intended to enable each household to make an informed decision about purchasing a home, considering their own financial and personal situation, and to keep their home.

Georgia Dream Homeownership Program provides low-interest rate mortgage loans for borrowers with moderate incomes. Borrowers must be first-time home buyers. The loans are 30-year, fixed rate mortgages with interest rates that are lower than existing market rates. Loans are originated under conventional, FHA, VA, or USDA/Rural Development guidelines. Homes purchased under the program cannot exceed maximum sales price limits. A home under this loan must be the borrower’s primary residence. Georgia Dream’s second mortgage provides zero percent (0%) interest rates loans to help first-time home buyers with the required down payment, closing costs, and prepaid items associated with purchasing a home. For more information please contact the Office of Homeownership at 404-679-4847 or by email at housing@dca.state.ga.us

USDA Rural Development housing programs work to improve the quality of life for rural Americans by ensuring that they have access to safe, well-built, affordable homes. Rural Development housing programs finance new or improved housing for low-to-moderate income families and individuals who wish to live in rural areas. Two types of homeownership loans are offered: guaranteed and direct loans. Under the direct loan program, individuals or families receive a loan directly from USDA. Payments are based on income, and you must be unable to obtain a homeownership loan from a bank or other conventional sources. Guaranteed loans are available to qualifying applicants whose income is too right to qualify for a direct housing loan. These are loans made by other lenders, such as banks or credit unions, and are guaranteed by Rural Development.

Home Improvement and Repair Loans and Grants enable low-income rural homeowners to remove health and safety hazards from their homes and to make home accessible for people with disabilities. Loans are available to lower income rural homeowners to make substantial home repairs when other loan options are not available. Rural Development makes loans for repairs to improve and modernize a loan or make it safer for seniors age 62 and older. Seniors, who cannot afford a loan, may obtain grant funds if available. For more information contact the Rural Development office at (229) 336-0371.

Federal Home Loan Bank

First-time Homebuyer Program provides matching funds for down-payment and closing-cost assistance to low- and moderate-income homebuyers. Participation in the program offers members a way to access a wider customer base and originate new mortgages. Individual homebuyers who would like to access these funds must meet eligibility guidelines and apply for funds through a participating member financial institution.

Community Investment Program (CIP) advance allows developers to fund affordable housing, while maintaining profit margins and minimizing risk. Qualifying housing developments may be eligible for discounted advances that are priced 10 basis points below regular advance rates.

In addition to competitive pricing, CIP offers maximum flexibility. You can structure the advance to meet the needs of both the institution and the borrower with fixed or adjustable rates, terms of up to 20 years, and interest-only or amortizing payments. You can also use CIP advances to fund multiple small loans or to match-fund larger loans.

Affordable Housing Program (AHP) is a flexible source of grants and loans designed to help member financial institutions and their community partners develop affordable owner-occupied and rental housing for very low- to moderate-income families and individuals. Applicants are encouraged to leverage their awards with other funding sources, including conventional loans, government-subsidized financing, tax-credit equity, foundation grants, and bond financing.

Single Family Development Program seeks to expand the supply of affordable single family housing and to increase homeownership opportunities for low and moderate income households. Nonprofits, for profit, and local public housing authorities may apply for up to $100,000 to develop new housing, rehabilitate vacant and dilapidated housing, or construct new housing. Resources are available as gap financing in the form of a Home Buyer Subsidy and/or Development Subsidy.

Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Program provides federal funds for housing improvement, local infrastructure such as water and sewer lines, economic development projects, and community facilities such as health centers and Head Start centers. Projects funded under this program must largely benefit low-and-moderate income persons. Only cities and counties in Georgia that do not receive CDBG funds directly from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development may apply for these grants from the Georgia Department of Community Affairs. Grants are awarded through a competitive process annually, with application due in April. Local matching funds may be required depending on the grant amount.

Community Home Investment Program (CHIP) makes federal HOME funds available to local governments for housing activities designed to benefit low-and moderate-income persons. Funds may be used for the production, acquisition, or rehabilitation of housing. CHIP funds may also be used in conjunction with CDBG funds. Only cities and counties in Georgia that do not receive CHIP funds directly from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development may apply for these grants from the Georgia Department of Community Affairs. Grants are awarded through a competitive process annually, with application due in April. The CHIP program is designed to encourage private investment in housing. This grant requires no matching funds but competitive applications should demonstrate leveraging of private funds.