Always Hope: A New Home for Brian
Flood survivor becomes new homeowner through Lease Purchase Pilot Program
by Whitney Bowling, AmeriCorps Homes for All Direct Service Member and Mindy Miller
The historic Eastern Kentucky flood of 2022 not only scarred the land, but it also left behind deep wounds that are taking years – and maybe even lifetimes – to heal.
For Brian Williams, whose rental home was destroyed in the disaster, old worries resurfaced, especially when it came to providing a good home for his daughter.
“I was raised in public housing, so it was always a dream of mine to one day own my own home,” Brian said. “I was renting a house at the time of the flood. And then, suddenly, one day there was 3 feet of water in the living room.”
After losing the home, Brian moved temporarily into a one-bedroom apartment, which was not an ideal place to live for him and his young daughter. That’s when he decided to go to the Housing Development Alliance (HDA) for help.
“I had some credit issues and was declined for a home loan at first,” Brian said, thinking back to May of 2023 when he first started working with HDA on becoming a new homeowner. “I was devastated, really broken down.”
Brian recounted how he’d worked hard in his life to overcome society’s expectations of a kid raised in public housing and how he’d avoided so many of the pitfalls associated with it, only to feel potentially locked out of his dream of purchasing a home he could one day leave to his daughter.
However, thanks to some flexible funding support from the Foundation for Appalachian Kentucky, Team Kentucky, Rural Housing Trust Fund (administered by Kentucky Housing Corporation), and the Delores Barr Weaver Legacy Fund, HDA created the Lease Purchase Pilot Program as a solution to the problem of flood survivors, like Brian, who were not ready to pay a mortgage and consequently were living in less than adequate housing.
“Living in inadequate housing could actually keep someone from getting mortgage-ready, so then they’re kind of stuck,” said HDA Assistant Director Chris Doll. “We had limited funding for this program, but luckily, we were able to offer Brian the option to rent the home he planned to purchase until he could qualify for an affordable loan.”
Doll continued, “This program allows us to provide flood survivors with more immediate housing. Instead of remaining in less than adequate housing circumstances, we let them go ahead and move into their new home while they continue to work on any credit or outstanding debt issues they have with the help of our homeownership staff.”
Through a combination of grants, donations, and affordable lending, staff at HDA work with each flood survivor individually on a proposed financing package specific to their situation. The size of the mortgage payment depends on the size and style of the home, the location of the home (and whether land had to be purchased), and the income of the flood survivor.
The Lease Purchase Pilot Program, while fueled only by temporary funding, allowed HDA to offer five flood-surviving households that weren’t ready to pay a mortgage the opportunity to enter into a Lease Purchase Agreement.
“Rent payments are based on the client’s income,” Doll noted. “All rent payments we receive as part of this program are used to pay for the insurance, liability, maintenance on the home, and administering the program. So, HDA makes no profit from the agreement.”
Doll explained that as part of the agreement, each client signs a rental lease and rules and has an addendum action plan they must complete. This plan outlines actions the client must take to get the client ready to apply for a home loan. The program is designed for anyone who can become a homeowner in less than three years.
Brian was in the program for around a year and credits it with not only helping him become a homeowner, but also with keeping him encouraged throughout the process. In fact, Brian moved into his new home in June 2024 and bought the home in March 2025!
“It feels great being here,” Brian said, speaking about the new home he now owns in HDA’s Blue Sky Subdivision. “There’s space here. There’s a yard to go out in and a neighborhood to walk around in. And my daughter loves having her own room again.”
He continued, “It’s just the right size for us. I absolutely love it.”
Brian concluded with expressing his hope that other flood survivors, including those who were recently affected by the 2025 floods, can receive the same assistance he was given by HDA.
“I just hope (survivors) get HDA’s help with moving out of the floodplains,” he said. “It’s scary knowing that land that hasn’t flooded in 60, 70, or 80 years can just one day flood again. I know what they’re going through, and the thing is, there’s hope. There’s always hope in getting a new place and maybe even a better start than you had before.”
“Today, I’m no longer in the floodplain. I have a brand-new home that’s built to high standards and is energy efficient,” Brian added. “HDA can help you get a new home, too – a better home in a good community.”
Brian Williams is the first HDA homeowner to purchase a home as part of the Lease Purchase Pilot Program. Following the sale of Brian’s home, the funding was revolved back into the loan fund to serve four additional households. HDA is hopeful to secure additional funding in the future that may fund the program further and make additional lease-purchase units available.
Click here for more information on HDA’s Homeownership Program.
HDA's Lease Purchase Pilot Program received strong funding from the Delores Barr Weaver Legacy Fund, Team Kentucky, Rural Housing Trust Fund (administered by Kentucky Housing Corporation), and the Foundation for Appalachian Kentucky. The program allowed HDA to move five flood-surviving families into their new homes as they worked on becoming mortgage ready. The program is designed for anyone who can become a homeowner in less than 3 years. HDA hopes to secure further funding so that it can offer this option to more disaster survivors.
