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We’re proud to feature our partner American Financial Solutions, who joined us for a Q&A to share how their expert financial counseling is helping Washingtonians manage debt, rebuild credit, and take meaningful steps toward homeownership.
⭐️ What inspired you to become a WHRC referral partner?
Our decision to partner with WHRC was rooted in a shared commitment to helping Washington residents navigate challenging financial situations and preserve homeownership. As a HUD-approved housing counseling agency, we saw an opportunity to strengthen our impact by connecting with WHRC’s statewide referral network and aligning with their mission to prevent foreclosure and support sustainable homeownership. We believe that owning a home is more than a financial milestone—it’s a key to generational stability. We saw the partnership as an opportunity to deliver early intervention and expand access to the kind of education, counseling, and advocacy that supports long-term homeownership and generational wealth.
⭐️ How has our partnership helped the individuals and families you serve?
The WHRC referral network has helped amplify our reach, allowing AFS to step in sooner—often before people reach a crisis point. This early connection is crucial when clients are at risk of foreclosure or struggling to maintain homeownership. Our team is then able to provide tailored support: financial counseling, debt analysis, foreclosure prevention strategies, and budgeting tools. For many, that support becomes the turning point toward stability. By streamlining referrals, WHRC helps ensure that more Washington families are connected with AFS’s holistic services at the moment they need them most.
⭐️ What do you find most valuable about collaborating with WHRC?
What we value most is the shared commitment to collaboration. WHRC’s ability to convene partners statewide supports the kind of coordinated action needed to tackle systemic housing challenges. Their tools and infrastructure allow organizations like ours to focus on what we do best: provide one-on-one guidance, navigate complex financial issues, and help clients move forward with clarity and confidence. The partnership strengthens all of us and ultimately leads to better outcomes for the communities we serve.
⭐️ What unique strengths or services do you contribute to our shared mission?
AFS brings decades of experience in helping individuals and families overcome financial barriers and achieve stable housing. Beyond foreclosure prevention, we offer a full spectrum of services—debt management plans, student loan support, credit and budgeting education, and first-time homebuyer readiness. Our client-centered approach is especially effective in supporting low- to moderate-income households and communities that have faced limited access to traditional financial services. We’re not just providing counseling—we’re equipping people with practical, personalized strategies to build lasting financial security.
⭐️ Can you share a success story or moment that highlights the impact of our partnership?
One of the most powerful aspects of our partnership with WHRC is how it enables us to link clients to a wide range of resources through a coordinated, compassionate approach. One recent example involved a young woman seeking to buy her first home in South Seattle—the neighborhood where she grew up. She came to AFS after hearing about the Covenant Homeownership Program and was eager to explore her options. Together with her father, she completed our housing counseling process, reviewed her financial standing, and learned about available support programs.
Thanks to our in-depth guidance—and the strength of WHRC’s partner referral network—we were able to help her access assistance through the CHA, the Buyer Readiness Fund, and a $50,000 down payment grant from Byrd Barr Place. In May 2025, she closed on a brand-new townhouse. Her dream became a reality, and her success reflects what’s possible when experienced counselors, trusted partnerships, and coordinated resources come together.
⭐️ What are your hopes for the future of our collaboration?
We hope to continue building on this strong foundation with WHRC by reaching more communities that face systemic barriers to homeownership. At AFS, we are especially focused on expanding access in rural regions and in culturally distinct communities. We also see great potential in deepening our collaboration beyond housing—partnering on broader asset-building strategies such as getting out of debt, building credit, increasing savings, and preparing for long-term financial stability. By aligning our strengths, we can ensure that individuals not only achieve homeownership but have the tools and support to thrive financially for years to come.
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