Janae Bryant, manager of Cobblestone Village in Clanton, was recently named Alabama Housing Finance Authority’s 2022 Manager of the Year (MOTY). Now in its 25th year, the MOTY award recognizes outstanding management staff at AHFA-funded developments.

Bryant has worked in property management since 2009 and has been at Cobblestone Village since its opening in November 2015. She was nominated for the award by Deborah Brown, regional property manager for Gateway Management Company. Brown wrote, “Janae is truly a pleasure to have as an employee. Janae deserves the Manager of the Year award for all the challenging work she does and goes beyond the job description of property manager. Gateway Management Company and the residents of Cobblestone Village are extremely fortunate to have someone like Janae.”

Bryant received her award during the Alabama Association of Affordable Housing (AAHA) annual conference in May. She said, “I was very honored and excited to win this award, but I do not need an award for what I do. I do it because I love my job and my residents. I want to be able to help them have a wonderful place to call home. I want to make sure they have everything they need. There are several residents here that have never lived in housing this nice, and I want to keep it that way for them.”

Cobblestone Village is 56-unit development for the elderly. It was financed in part by $812,048 in Housing Credits administered by AHFA. Resident Mashell Adams said in Bryant’s nomination package, “I have to say that Janae is one of the most genuine, caring, and studious people I have ever met. It is truly a pleasure knowing her. She truly cares about if the residents here are safe and cared for in every way that she can possibly offer.”

Bryant said, “I love helping my residents with not just providing them a quality affordable place to live but being able to help them with any other issues they may have and refer them to outside agencies that can help them with their needs.”

“My wife Brenda worked as a call representative for 40 years. In 2020, she suffered an extreme case of COVID-19 and was unable to work for months, which led to her being let go from her job. During this time, my son and older brother also tested positive with COVID-19, but sadly did not survive.

There was nothing more that our mortgage company could do for my family, and we really had nowhere to turn. We were already contemplating a quick sell on our home until a sweet young lady from our mortgage company told me about the Mortgage Assistance Alabama Program. 

Within six weeks of applying for assistance, our mortgage was paid for a year. You can’t imagine the heavy weight that was lifted from my shoulders. If it hadn’t been for AHFA and the MAA program, we would have lost our home of 24 years. I would encourage anyone struggling financially to apply for MAA because it has made such a positive impact, not only on my life, but my grandchildren’s lives as well. We are so thankful and grateful.”

Brenda said, “I cannot let this moment pass without thanking everyone involved in helping to save our home! I never doubted our Heavenly Father and the kind and helpful people of AHFA. Due to life happenstances and my recent illness, along with having only social security and a small pension check, life has been devastating. It only took someone who cared and told us about AHFA to get us on the right track. Words cannot express the feelings we have for this wonderful organization!”

For more information about MAA, visit www.mortgageassistanceAL.com. 

"I just wanted to inform your office of the MAA assistance that I received from Underwriter Lily Motley and others at AHFA. I am retired military, having fought in five wars/conflicts. My wife and I were really struggling with a very large monthly mortgage payment. Then in 2018 our only son was killed in an automobile accident while on his way to work. He was survived by four young children, whom we have taken into our home to support. Our initial MAA application was handled in an efficient and timely manner. Mrs. Motley then handled most of the process going forward. To say that she was kind, understanding, courteous, and professional would be a huge understatement. The MAA assistance and Mrs. Motley’s help have been a Godsend to our family. THANK YOU a thousand times over!" 🙏

Are you a mortgage professional or Realtor who wants to know more about AHFA programs? AHFA offers on-site training that covers borrower and property eligibility, processing, documentation, income calculations and more. Contact us to find out more and to schedule a session in your area.