PINEVILLE — If you thought you could never afford to buy a new house — yes you can — through the Bell-Whitley Community Action Agency’s Housing Program.

Kentucky Housing Corporation recently announced their latest round of funding from the Affordable Housing Trust Fund (AHTF) and the HOME Investment Partnerships (HOME) Program and Bell Whitley was awarded $360,000 from HOME and $95,000 from the AHTF. 

Fifteen agency recipients around the state, similar to Bell Whitley, will receive an excess of $5.5 million to fund 18 home ownership development projects in their communities and produce or preserve 206 units of affordable housing. 

The AHTF was established in 1992 by the Kentucky State Legislature to address the critical housing needs of very low-income Kentuckians, including the mentally and physically disabled, and those on the verge of homelessness.  The fund supports developments that assist persons at or below 60 percent of the area median income with a preference to help persons at or below 30 percent of the area median income.

The HOME Program was created by the National Affordable Housing Act of 1990 and provides funding for various types of affordable housing production and rehabilitation. HOME is the largest federal block grant program designed exclusively to create affordable housing for low-income households.

The HOME Program’s flexibility empowers agencies and communities to design and implement programs tailored to their own needs and priorities. Its emphasis on consolidated planning expands and strengthens partnerships among all levels of government and the private sector.

Similarly, Bell-Whitley housing initiatives assists low-income families to qualify in becoming homeowners and assists current homeowners with rehabilitation projects.

Through the Bell-Whitley housing program, several new single family homes have already been built and numerous homes have been rehabilitated in Bell and Whitley County. This program was developed in response to the community’s need for “safe, affordable housing”. Furthermore, Bell-Whitley Community Action Agency employs trained housing counselors who can assist you in the dream of owning your own home and they are accepting applications for qualified home buyers on a daily basis.

In order to qualify for the housing initiative, you must:

• Have a household income within limitations set by federal law.

• Be a U.S citizen or qualified alien person.

• Have a down payment or qualify for down payment assistance.

• Have an acceptable credit history or a history that can be corrected through counseling.

Applications can be dropped off at the Bell Whitley facility, located at 129 Pine Street in Pineville Monday. For more information contact the agency at 606-337-3044. Don’t miss this opportunity just because you don’t have a large income.

For more information about the AHTF or HOME Program, contact Kentucky Housing Corporation’s Marilyn Stober Harris or Tammy Stansbury toll-free in Kentucky at (800) 633-8896 or (502) 564-7630, extensions 253 or 411 or e-mail mstober@kyhousing.org or tstansbury@kyhousing.org.

Sarah Miracle is a staff writer for the Daily News. She can be contacted via e-mail at smiracle@middlesborodailynews.com.