Mortgage Default Resolution Counseling
HELP offers individual mortgage default resolution counseling to households at risk of losing their home. The goal is to assess each homeowner’s ability to repay their mortgage and determine the best course of action. We work with homeowners and their lender/servicer to attempt to cure any delinquency and create a sustainable payment arrangement. If this cannot be accomplished, we assist the homeowner in their transition out of the property.
A counseling session includes:
- Review and sign authorization agreement and privacy policy
- Create hardship letter and budget
- Review of current income and available assets
- Determination of available retention options
- Submission of intake and financial package to lender
- Referral to additional services if necessary
COUNSELING SESSIONS IN 2023 = 111
Financial Capability & Pre-Purchase Counseling
Financial Capability & Pre-Purchase Counseling sessions are offered for individuals who want a review and assessment of their credit rating and overall financial goals. Sessions are tailored to the individual household needs and may include such topics and actions as:
- Obtain and review copy of the credit report with scores
- Determine how scores can be improved
- Creation of budget and spending /savings plan
- Financial Planning
- Savings and investing ideas
- Homeownership Resources
- Learning about Power Payments
- Understanding Debt
COUNSELING SESSIONS IN 2023 = 445
Homebuyer Education
The Home Buying course focuses on how real estate transactions work, qualifications for home financing, and the responsibilities of home ownership. Our online homeownership education course offered through eHome America will help participants determine whether they are ready to purchase a home, and offer information on managing money and credit. It also focuses on obtaining a mortgage, shopping for a home, and managing your home and finances after closing. Certificates are required for most down payment/closing cost assistance, and are provided via email upon completion of the full course. In addition to the online option, we conducted a virtual workshop in both English and Spanish in partnership with Habitat for Humanity in April 2023.
VIRTUAL WORKSHOP PARTICIPANTS IN 2023 = 29
eHome America PARTICIPANTS IN 2023 = 92
Community Assistance Program
Our agency continued to partner with Collier County government in administering emergency funding through the American Rescue Plan (ARP) to cover mortgage and/or utility payments for households with a verified Covid-related hardship. Funds through this program were paid directly from our County Clerk of Courts to mortgage servicers or utility companies. HELP was proud to directly provide the following assistance in 2023:
Households Provided Mortgage/Utility Assistance = 82
Total mortgage/utility assistance funded = $419,235.81
