In April of 2006 12 nonprofits across the state of Ohio joined forces with the NeighborWorks® Center for Foreclosure Solutions and the Homeownership Preservation Foundation to provide statewide counseling to homeowners in danger of losing their homes to foreclosure. The Ohio NeighborWorks Foreclosure Intervention Initiative is based on a proven formula first developed by a NeighborWorks organization in Chicago –Neighborhood Housing Services (NHS) of Chicago and was the first time this foreclosure intervention model had been expanded statewide. In the first nine months, 4,470 Ohioans reached out for help.
This statewide partnership puts all the different pieces to stop foreclosure together, including marketing of the Homeownership Preservation Foundation's 888-995-HOPE number to raise awareness and save more homeowners. Marketing efforts direct borrowers to call the hotline where they are connected directly to a live counselor 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Callers are triaged, determining whether the family needs help to fill short or long-term income gaps, aid to repair property damage, and/or assist in budgeting and money management. Based on these needs, NeighborWorks organizations can deploy a range of services: public education, face-to-face counseling referrals, bridge loans to help consumers falling behind in payments catch up, rehab loans for repairs and maintenance, and a body of experience and research to ensure the intervention strategies used are effective. Counselors from participating organizations have received foreclosure counseling training from NeighborWorks America.
For a homeowner in financial distress, trying to figure out how to access assistance from their lender or loan servicer can be a bit daunting. This initiative in Ohio takes the mystery away by giving them one number and direct access to a certified housing counselor, at any time they want to make the call, and with no charge.
Experience shows it is much less expensive to counsel and restructure loans than to foreclose. The cost to the borrower includes a lost home, equity and ruined credit. The cost to the community includes $30,000-50,000 in law enforcement services and lost economic development. And, contrary to stereotypes, banks are losers in foreclosure too, losing at least $50,000 on each foreclosed home.Citigroup, Chase and other major mortgage lenders are helping to fund the effort, and have shared critical loan servicing information with the involved nonprofit counselors to help them navigate the range of options available to at-risk homeowners. "Homeownership is a way that Americans build wealth. We believe this effort will help many families preserve and maintain the American Dream of homeownership. This relationship enables us to implement a comprehensive approach, combining the different elements needed to prevent foreclosure," said Heidi Coppola, vice president and director, public policy and issue management, Citigroup, Inc.
“Our Ohio NeighborWorks Foreclosure Intervention initiative will stop the hemorrhaging of Ohio’s foreclosure crisis through education and outreach, quality counseling and referrals to local non-profit agencies,” said Amy Klaben, President/CEO of Columbus Housing Partnership. “By spreading the word about the 1-888-995-HOPE hotline and offering homeowners the choice to receive face-to-face help in their communities, we have a real chance of making a difference.”
The 12 participating organizations in Ohio are:
Columbus Housing Partnership (CHP) is founded on the belief that a decent and affordable home is the cornerstone of family life and a healthy community. A member of the NeighborWorks network serving Columbus and the surrounding area, CHP builds and rehabs both single and multi-family homes. CHP also provides housing counseling, homebuyer education, and foreclosure prevention counseling in English and Spanish, as well as foreclosure rescue funds and a variety of community safety programs and resident services.
East Akron Neighborhood Development Corporation (EANDC) serves the Akron area with a mission to develop East Akron and other communities through housing and economic development activities that promote self-sufficiency and community growth. EANDC provides weatherization and home repair services, develops homes for sale and rental, develops and manages multi-family rental units, provides housing counseling and homebuyer training services and operates a small business incubator. EANDC is a member of the NeighborWorks network.
The Home Ownership Center of Greater Cincinnati (HOC) is a member of the NeighborWorks network serving the Cincinnati area. The mission of HOC is to strengthen communities through comprehensive homeownership and neighborhood revitalization strategies. HOC programs include housing counseling, homebuyer education, down payment assistance, affordable mortgage financing, foreclosure prevention services, home repair lending programs and home maintenance training. HOC also operates community building programs to improve target neighborhoods.
Neighborhood Conservation Services of Barberton (NCS) serves Barberton and the surrounding area. NCS’s mission is to utilize a comprehensive reinvestment strategy to produce neighborhood revitalization by stabilizing the housing stock, increasing property values and creating neighborhoods of choice for the benefit of current and future residents. NCS’s programs include home repair programs, housing counseling, homebuyer education programs, foreclosure prevention services, development of homes for sale and rental and the development of multi-family rental properties. NCS also offers community building and organizing programs to improve target areas. NCS is a member of the NeighborWorks network.
Neighborhood Housing Partnership of Greater Springfield (NHP) preserves affordable, quality housing and strong neighborhoods through partnerships with residents, businesses, and local government. NHP is a member of the NeighborWorks network and provides home repair loans, housing counseling, homebuyer education, down payment assistance, affordable mortgage financing, foreclosure prevention services and targeted neighborhood improvement programs. NHP serves Springfield and the surrounding area.
Corporation for Ohio Appalachian Development (COAD) serves rural, mostly Appalachian, counties in eastern and southern Ohio. It is comprised of 17 Community Action Agencies that serve a 30 county area. COAD’s mission is to provide a unified voice and representation for its member agencies and the constituents they serve – primarily low-income families and the elderly. COAD provides energy efficiency and weatherization programs, lead abatement programs, senior programs and early care and education services. COAD also provides down payment assistance, housing counseling and home repair services.
Rural Opportunities, Inc. Ohio (ROI Ohio) is part of a New York-based NeighborWorks organization. ROI Ohio is a community development and human services organization providing services to farmworkers, low-income families and economically depressed communities primarily in northwest Ohio. ROI Ohio’s programs include housing counseling, homebuyer education and homebuyer financing. ROI Ohio also provides housing technical assistance to help other nonprofits and municipalities develop affordable housing for farmworkers and other low-income families. In addition, ROI Ohio develops rental housing, provides a farmworker jobs program and offers child development programs, health and safety programs, emergency and supportive services and youth education and training programs.
Neighborhood Housing Services of Greater Cleveland (NHSGC) is a NeighborWorks organization serving Cleveland and the surrounding area. NHSGC’s mission is to revitalize neighborhoods by providing programs and services that improve neighborhoods and enhance the quality of life for residents. NHSGC’s programs include housing counseling, homebuyer education, down payment assistance, home repair lending, home maintenance training, foreclosure prevention services and targeted neighborhood improvement programs.
Neighborhood Housing Services of Hamilton (NHSH) serves Hamilton and the surrounding area. NHSH is a NeighborWorks organization with a mission to revitalize and build communities through a partnership of residents, the business community, and government and community leaders. NHSH provides housing counseling, homebuyer education, down payment assistance, affordable mortgage financing, home repair loans, home maintenance training, foreclosure prevention services and targeted neighborhood improvement projects.
Neighborhood Development Services (NDS) serves Portage and other northeastern communities in Ohio. The mission of NDS, a NeighborWorks organization, is to revitalize neighborhoods through affordable housing, economic development and job creation primarily for the benefit of low and moderate income households. NDS’s programs include multi-family rental development, home repair programs, housing counseling, homebuyer education, down payment assistance, a daycare center, development of housing for elderly and for handicapped persons and foreclosure prevention services.
Neighborhood Housing Services of Toledo (NHST) is a NeighborWorks organization serving Toledo and surrounding counties. The mission of NHST is to restore and revitalize NHST neighborhoods, primarily for the benefit of current and future inhabitants, by providing services and programs which renew pride, stimulate reinvestment and restore confidence and trust. NHST’s programs include housing counseling, homebuyer education, down payment assistance, home repair lending, single and multi-family real estate development, foreclosure prevention services and targeted neighborhood improvement services.
St. Mary Development Corporation (St. Mary), a NeighborWorks organization, facilitates neighborhood development throughout the Dayton region. St. Mary’s programs include single-family and multi-family real estate development, developing senior housing, targeted neighborhood improvement initiatives, housing counseling, homebuyer education, down payment assistance, home maintenance training and foreclosure prevention services.
