| Frequently Asked Questions - The Unity Council Homeownership Center Closure
- Why is the Homeownership Center closing?
After 17 years of dedicated service to thousands of families in Alameda County, The Unity Council is no longer able to support our Homeownership Center due to the rising costs associated with operating and maintaining this line of business. The decision to close the Homeownership Center was made after much deliberation between our Board of Directors and executive management team. It does not, however, reflect the overall financial health of The Unity Council as a whole.
- What services from the Homeownership Center are no longer being offered to clients?
As a result of the closure, The Unity Council has ceased offering homebuyer education workshops, and homebuyer counseling.
- Have the families that are being served by the Homeownership Center been notified of the closure?
On June 12, 2015, we will send a communication to the families that are currently listed as active in our database informing them of the closure, and where they can find alternate resources to assist them with homebuyer education or other services that have been discontinued. This communication will be provided in English and Spanish, and will also be posted on The Unity Council's Homeownership page located on its website.
- How will the families currently being served by the Homeownership Center be impacted by the closure?
At this time, we are in the process of referring current and prospective clients to the following HUD-approved counseling agencies:
Homebuyers: including Homebuyer Education and Homebuyer Counseling (agencies listed are either HUD approved and/or Neighborworks Network Organizations).
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Operation Hope, Inc - Oakland Branch, www.operationhope.org, 510-535-6700, HUD-approved
Pre-purchase Counseling, Pre-purchase Homebuyer Education Workshops
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Money Management International Oakland, www.moneymanagement.org, 866-232-9080, HUD-approved
Pre-purchase Counseling, Pre-purchase Homebuyer Education Workshops
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National Association of Real Estate Brokers-Investment Division, Inc, Oakland, www.nidonline.org, 510-268-9792, HUD-approved
Pre-purchase Counseling, Pre-purchase Homebuyer Education Workshops
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Eden Council for Hope and Opportunity (Echo), Oakland and Hayward locations, www.echofairhousing.org, 510-581-9380, HUD-approved
Pre-purchase Counseling
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Asian Inc, San Francisco, www.asianinc.org, 415-928-5910, HUD-approved
Pre-purchase Counseling, Pre-purchase Homebuyer Education Workshops
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Chinatown Community Development Center, San Francisco, www.chinatowncdc.org, 415-984-1450, Neighborworks Network Orgranization
Pre-purchase Homebuyer Education
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Tenderloin Neighborhood Development Corporation, San Francisco, www.tndc.org, 415-776-2151, Neighborworks Network Orgranization
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Community Housing Development Corporation of North Richmond, Richmond, www.chdcnr.com, 510-412-9290, HUD-approved, Neighborworks Network Orgranization
Homeowners: including Foreclosure Prevention, Loan Modification, Refinance, Sale of Property, Reverse Mortgages and/or financial support (agencies listed [except for www.keepyourhomecalifornia.org] are either HUD approved and/or Neighborworks Network Organizations).
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Operation Hope, Inc - Oakland Branch, www.operationhope.org, 510-535-6700, HUD-approved
Mortgage Delinquency and Default Resolution
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HERA (Housing and Economic Rights Advocates), Oakland, 510-271-8443
Loan Modifications, Foreclosure Assistance and Legal Issues.
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Money Management International Oakland, www.moneymanagement.org, 866-232-9080, HUD-approved
Mortgage Delinquency and Default Resolution, Financial Management/Budget Counseling
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National Association of Real Estate Brokers-Investment Division, Inc, Oakland, www.nidonline.org, 510-268-9792, HUD-approved
Mortgage Delinquency and Default Resolution, Financial Management/Budget Counseling, Home Improvement and Rehabilitation counseling, Loan Modifications, Reverse Mortgages
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Eden Council for Hope and Opportunity (Echo), Oakland and Hayward locations, www.echofairhousing.org, 510-581-9380, HUD-approved
Mortgage Delinquency and Default Resolution
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Asian Inc, San Francisco, www.asianinc.org, 415-928-5910, HUD-approved
Mortgage Delinquency and Default Resolution
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Chinatown Community Development Center, San Francisco, www.chinatowncdc.org, 415-984-1450, Neighborworks Network Orgranization
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Tenderloin Neigborhood Development Corporation, San Francisco, www.tndc.org, 415-776-2151
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Community Housing Development Corporation of North Richmond, Richmond, www.chdcnr.com, 510-412-9290, HUD-approved, Neighborworks Network Orgranization
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Operation HOPE Mortgage Crisis Hotline, nationwide hotline, 888-388-4673
Loan Modifications, Foreclosure Assistance and Selling property.
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At www.KeepYourHomeCalifornia.org, they provide financial assistance for those who are behind on mortgage payments. They do not provide assistance with loan modifications.
Home Repair Programs:
Alameda County Health Homes Program www.achhd.org City of Oakland Home Repair Program http://www2.oaklandnet.com/Government/o/hcd/s/HousingRepairRehabPrograms/index.htm http://www.gnservices.org/programs-and-services/housing-rehabilitation/ http://portal.hud.gov/hudportal/HUD?src=/states/california/homeownership/homerepairs Affordable Housing including Rental Assistance
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Money Management International Oakland, www.moneymanagement.org, 866-232-9080, HUD-approved
Rental Housing Counseling
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National Association of Real Estate Brokers-Investment Division, Inc, Oakland, www.nidonline.org, 510-268-9792, HUD-approved
Services for Homeless Counseling, Rental Housing Counseling
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Eden Council for Hope and Opportunity (Echo), Oakland and Hayward locations, www.echofairhousing.org, 510-581-9380, HUD-approved
Rental Housing Counseling
We are working with these agencies to ensure that any potential disruption in service to our existing clients will be minimized through the last day of the Center's operation on August 31, 2015. In addition, there are 250 families that are being served by The Unity Council with the administration of their Wells Fargo CityLIFT downpayment assistance loans. As a result of the Homeownership Center closure, the loan portfolio is currently in the process of being transferred to another 501 c (3) nonprofit organization that is qualified to service the outstanding loans. It is our intention to prioritize the portfolio transfer to this organization in a timely, secure and efficient manner prior to the Homeownership Center's final day of operation on August 31, 2015. All client data and information will be handled with the upmost respect and security. We will keep our partners apprised of the identity of and ongoing progress with the organization that will acquire the loan portfolio in the coming weeks. 5. The Unity Council is part of the NeighborWorks America network. Has NeighborWorks America been informed of the closure? Yes. We have kept NeighborWorks America informed regarding the need for the Homeownership Center's closure, and have sought their counsel throughout the wind-down process in order to facilitate a responsible and transparent disclosure of the transition in progress. 6. When will partners and clients be updated by The Unity Council of additional changes related to the Homeownership Center's closure? We plan to send a follow-up communication to partners and clients to inform them of any relevant updates in the weeks leading up to the August 31 closing date. 7. Will The Unity Council's partners or clients have any points of contact for information available to them regarding these changes after the August 31, 2015 final day of operation at the Homeownership Center?
Yes. Resources for alternative local homeownership programs and HUD-approved counseling information will remain available on The Unity Council's website. In addition, partners or clients may contact The Unity Council directly at homeownership@unitycouncil.org or by phone at 510.535.6112. |
