Housing Highlights from Community Action Partnership

Housing Highlights

Volume IV, Issue 11 May 2012

www.cap-dayton.org

In This Issue

Performing Under Pressure

Success Story

Keeping a Cool Head

Community Action Partnership Housing Counselor Wendy Carter (above) recently found herself on the phone with a customer threatening to commit suicide. The customer had previously come to CAP for housing foreclosure prevention and was assisted by Ms. Carter.

Those issues were resolved and the customer found herself facing new problems. She told Ms. Carter that she remembered how friendly she was to her and decided to confide in her. The customer felt overwhelmed and had decided suicide was her only solution.

Ms. Carter spoke with her for more than an hour and listened attentively as the woman explained her situation. Fortunately, she was able to keep the customer on the phone while the appropriate help was dispatched to the woman's residence.

Awards Presented

To celebrate Community Action Month, Community Action Partnership (CAP) in Montgomery County presented the Second Annual "Helping People. Changing Lives." Awards at the Dayton/RTA Cultural Center. The awards are presented to individuals and organizations that consistently demonstrate their commitment to helping others achieve greater self-sufficiency.

The Community Partner Awards were presented to the following:

Public Sector Partner: Sinclair Community College, for the college's involvement in Workforce Development throughout the community.
Private Sector Partner: Huntington National Bank, for its involvement in Community Action Partnership's Youth Empowerment Center (YEC) programs.
Media Partner: WROU-FM 92.1, for outstanding support of Community Action Partnership's programs and services.

The Direct Service Awards were presented to services providers who have delivered outstanding customer service for CAP and its partner agencies. The award winners were:

Lyra Bailey, The Wesley Center;
Shallon Coleman, Abigail's Journey (third from left in above photo);
Ann Goebel, St Vincent de Paul Society;
Alissa Shuster, The American Red Cross;
Rodger Stauffer, CHOICES, Inc.

United Way Logo

From The Director

Willie J. Harris

The state of Ohio has joined a $25 billion settlement agreement with the nation's five largest mortgage servicers over foreclosure abuses, fraud and unacceptable nationwide mortgage practices. Ohio's share of the settlement is estimated to be $330 million dollars, which will be used in the following ways:

$102 million for loan term modification and other direct relief.
$44.9 million in cash payments to borrowers who lost their homes to foreclosure from Jan. 1, 2008 through Dec. 11, 2011 and suffered servicing abuse.
$90 million for refinanced loans to underwater borrowers.
$93 million to the state to help with foreclosure prevention, elimination of blighted properties, homeowner education and prosecution of mortgage rescue scammers.

Speaking of scammers, the sad truth is that the amounts of large monetary awards like this find them crawling out of the woodwork. They may call and ask for money in exchange for information about the settlement or your eligibility. Do not give them money or personal information. No one needs to pay any money to qualify for the settlement.

Though this is very exciting news for the state, those who may be eligible for assistance will have to be patient as the settlement takes place over a three-year period. Banks will search for eligible borrowers and this may take several months.

As a HUD-Certified Housing Counseling Agency, Community Action Partnership will have a role assisting customers that may qualify for the settlement.

For information on the settlement, including frequently asked questions and the settlement document itself go here or call 1-800-282-0515.

Sincerely,

Willie J. Harris
Director of Housing Counseling and Development

Toward a Brighter Future

If a home goes to a Sheriff's Sale, the current homeowner's chances of keeping the home are almost gone. Once the sale is scheduled, there's only a small amount of time to come up with a solution to allow the owner to keep the home.

Britain Cassidy, a single mother with two children, was laid off from her job last year. She met with CAP Housing Counselor Wendy Carter, who encouraged Ms. Cassidy to apply for unemployment even though Ms. Cassidy had been told she wouldn't qualify for it. She did receive unemployment insurance and some support for her children. This was not enough. She began to fall behind on her mortgage.

When a Sheriff's Sale was scheduled late last year, Ms. Cassidy managed to get it postponed. However, she was still behind on her mortgage, and her home was again scheduled for a Sheriff's Sale. Ms. Cassidy contacted Ms. Carter, who knew Ms. Cassidy's home could be saved if they worked quickly.

"I had to help her," said Ms. Carter. "I didn't give up on her."

With less than a month before the scheduled Sheriff's Sale, the two worked diligently to obtain the information needed to apply for the Restoring Stability Program. Just days before the Sheriff's Sale, Ms. Cassidy learned that she qualified for $21,000 in assistance to bring her mortgage current.

"I just want to thank you from the bottom of my heart," Ms. Cassidy wrote in a note to Ms. Carter. "I really appreciate everything you've done for my family and I thank you for never giving up on me. Without you I would be homeless with two kids. I am truly blessed to have you in my corner."

After the stops and starts and the stress of making a difficult deadline, Ms. Carter simply said, "I was glad to put this file away!"

Our mission is to work in partnership with local communities to eliminate the causes and conditions of poverty and to promote individual independence and self-sufficiency!