From Hardship to Homeownership: A Story of Partnership and Perseverance

The path to homeownership often requires more than determination—it takes a network of support and resources. A recent collaboration between Cook Inlet Lending Center (CILC), RurALCAP, the Bureau of Indian Affairs, and Cook Inlet Tribal Council demonstrates how these partnerships can transform lives in Alaska Native communities.

At the heart of this story is an Alaska Native individual who, after suffering a serious injury, found himself unable to work and homeless. Through perseverance and the support of these organizations, his journey would take an extraordinary turn. The Cook Inlet Lending Center, serving as both a mortgage broker and grant facilitator, helped him access approximately $100,000 in grant funding through the Federal Home Loan Bank (FHLB) and the featured BIA/RURALCAP/CITC down payment grant program designed to support Alaska Native homebuyers.

"The modern-day journey to homeownership is not as straightforward as it once was," says Benjamin Reynolds, Residential Lending Manager of Cook Inlet Lending Center. "Complicated capital stacks for homebuyers are becoming an all-too familiar occurance, especially among the borrowers searching for homes in Alaska. Being able to be a part of such an incredible journey and partnering with like-minded organizations to create opportunities for homeowners makes the hard work worth it in the end."

Video provided courtesy of RuRALCAP