Welcome to our TCW Blog!

In this area of our site, I hope to give some perspective on TCW happenings, musings on planning and community development, and observations.  The title of the blog, Building Community, comes from a postcard made by Syracuse Cultural Works titled “How to Build Community.”  This postcard has been part of my inspiration; the text of the postcard reads:

How To Build Community:

Turn off your TV/ Leave your House/ Know Your Neighbors/ Greet People/ Look Up When You’re Walking/ Sit on the Stoop/ Plant Flowers/ Use Your Library/ Play Together/ Buy from Your Local Merchants/ Share What You Have/ Help A Lost Dog/ Take Your Children to the Park/ Honor Elders/ Support Neighborhood Schools/ Fix It Even If You Didn’t Break It/ Have Pot Lucks/ Garden Together/ Pick Up Litter/ Read Stories Aloud/ Dance In the Street/ Talk To the Mail Carrier/ Listen To The Birds/ Put Up A Swing/ Help Carry Something Heavy/ Barter For Your Goods/ Start A Tradition/ Ask A Question/ Hire Young People for Odd Jobs/ Organize A Block Party/ Bake Extra & Share/ Ask for Help When You Need It/ Open Your Shades/ Sing Together/ Share Your Skills/ Take Back the Night/ Turn Up the Music/ Turn Down the Music/ Listen Before You React to Anger/ Mediate a Conflict/ Seek to Understand/ Learn from New & Uncomfortable Angles/ Know That No One Is Silent Though Many Aren’t Heard-Work to Change This.

This may seem long, but when you see it on the postcard I hope you’ll be as inspired as I was many years ago when I first saw the postcard.  In this blog, we’ll be talking about the points mentioned above and going into things more in depth. My hope is that, through this blog, we can educate each other and inspire each other to be greater than the sum of our individual parts as we build up our Troy community.

TCW has hired Diane Flora to be our new Housing Counselor.  Welcome Diane & thank you to everyone who applied.

Troy Community Works!

Housing Counselor ? Job Description

Troy Community Works! seeks a part-time comprehensive housing counselor for the Housing Foreclosure Prevention Assistance Center (HFPAC) to fulfill the responsibilities described below. This part-time position has flexible hours ranging from 15-20 hours per week with a minimum of two days per week to be spent in the TCW office located in Troy, OH. Candidate must be a self-starter who can work with little supervision and have a desire to work with people in a non-profit setting. Compensation is based on experience and includes training expenses.  The candidate must be proficient with math, have good verbal and written communication skills, be analytical, self-motivated, able to confidently exercise independent judgment and want to make a difference in the community.

Qualifications:
B.A. or B.S. in Business, Banking or related field or equivalent experience. Background in the mortgage/home finance industry is preferred.
Proficient in Microsoft Word and Microsoft Excel
Must be detail oriented, able to multi-task, have good interpersonal skills and be able to work in a team ,but also able to confidently exercise discretion and independent judgment to assist homebuyers and homeowners.
Must be interested in working for a non-profit organization. 

May require some evenings and/or weekends

Other helpful skills: 

Desire to develop the position to full time to include more comprehensive homebuyer education

Counseling and/or legal background (such as social work or family counseling)

Responsibilities:

• Participation in a HUD approved training course to become a certified housing counselor (some travel required).
• Counseling Miami County residents in pre-foreclosure or foreclosure and informing them of their options. This may include:
• • Packaging mortgages and refinancing loans
  • Contacting lenders
• Coordinating with the Miami County Courts, Miami County Bar Association, local attorneys and Legal Aid of Western Ohio to provide legal counsel to clients.
• Maintain program files and records for use in reporting.
• Conducting outreach and marketing agency?s counseling services and educational programs to potential homeowners that may be facing foreclosure.
• Establishing and maintaining relationships with lending institutions
• Submitting completed reports to funders and supervisors in a timely manner
• Working with the executive director and board of TCW to develop a comprehensive homebuyer education program that could include but not limited to budgeting and savings, qualifying for a mortgage or refinance, reverse mortgages, home equity loan, mortgage and other loan terms, credit and debt counseling, legal aspects of home buying, etc.

TCW is an equal opportunity employer. Please send resume and cover letter to Martha Harris, Executive Director, Troy Community Works! 315 Public Sq. #215, Troy, OH 45373. Position open 8/4/09 until filled.  Questions? Email:  marthaharris@troycommunityworks.com

www.troycommunity.com

How can I get started?

 

Act as soon as possible, before the situation becomes a crisis.

First, call 937 339-1014 to schedule an appointment in our Troy Office.  Schedule a time to come in for a private and confidential session with a certified counselor. The offices of Troy Community Works are located at 315 Public Square SW, Suite 215, Troy Ohio, 45373.

There is no charge for this counseling.  We keep your records confidential, however you will be asked to sign a release if we take on your case, and you will be asked to provide  financial data so that you and your counselor can begin to understand your specific situation and prepare your options.

Some things you should NOT do:

 

Do not hide from your situation. Keep all records and correspondence from your lender.

Do not be embarrassed – it is difficult, but you are not alone, and with help you can get through this.

 

 

Funding for this program was provided by a generous grant from the general fund of the Troy Foundation, Troy, OH; the Paul G. Duke Foundation, the United Way of Troy and the Miami County Foundation.

 

 

Directory

These organizations may be able to help:

 

Troy Community Works!

937 339-1014

Operates a foreclosure assistance center, serving Miami County in  Troy Ohio, offering free financial counseling and transition assistance.

 

Homeowners Center of Greater Dayton

866 956-9516

Operates a Homeowners Center in Dayton, Ohio offering free financial counseling and homeowner education.

 

Legal Aid of Western Ohio

Byron Bonar, 866 837-8847

Provides free legal advice and representation in qualifying cases.

 

Job and Family Services of Miami County

937 440-3471 Provides advice and assistance in unemployment services.

 

Mediation for Home Foreclosures

Miami County, Common Pleas Courts

937 440-5900

If you are already in foreclosure, call and ask to speak to the Assignment Administrator for the judge assigned to your case to see if mediation is an option.

Hope Hotline 888-995-HOPE (4673)

A national non-profit organization that  provides phone advice and counseling. They are also able to connect you to some local services.

Save the Dream 888 404-4674

An Ohio program that provides advice and counseling for Ohio foreclosures.

What can I do when I face foreclosure?

Important information about the foreclosure process

Get help right away

 

Homeowner/Foreclosure Counseling Center of Miami County

 

Call toll free:

 

Troy Community Works 937 339-1014

Or

Homeowners Center 866 956-9516

What should I do?

Do not ignore it.  The problem won’t go away and you WILL lose your home if you wait too long to act.

Don’t pay for mortgage rescue.

Beware of “mortgage rescue” offers. Mortgage rescue companies are likely to contact you if a foreclosure has been filed in court.  They will claim they can save your home for a fee.  As good as it may sound, these services are often unable to prevent a foreclosure and they will cost you more money.  Don’t pay them.

Get some professional assistance.

A certified housing counselor can determine exactly what your situation is and what options you may have.  This assistance is available to you free. This brochure will give you information on who to contact for various services.

Contact your lender.

Lenders often never hear from homeowners in foreclosure.  Failure to talk to your lender is a mistake. Speak to someone in your lender’s loan service department and not in the collections department to get help.  Early discussions with your lender may generate options. It is a good idea to allow the housing counselor to join you in these discussions with your lender.

 

 

 

 

 

What are some solutions?

There may be many, depending on your circumstances. The first step is to determine what is causing the difficulty. It may be a job loss, an unexpected illness or injury to an income producer, a change in your mortgage payment schedule.  Getting financial advice is critical.

The second step is to determine your options. This requires analysis of your current financial condition and your mortgage requirements. A certified counselor or mediator can guide you through this process and determine which options are best for you.  Several options are listed below:

• Mortgage Modification – Refinance the debt at a lower rate or over a longer period for a lower payment.
• Special Foreberance – A repayment plan between you and your lender to help meet special but temporary need, like an illness or injury.
• Federal and State Help programs – If you qualify, there are state and federal programs that may provide full or temporary assistance.
• Agreed on sale- If the home can not be saved, the lender may agree to sell the home for less than you owe.  The lender agrees to accept the amount and waive the balance, which preserves your credit.
• Deed in lieu – Under this agreement, the home is given back to the lender.  This does not save the house, but it may preserve your credit.

What if I am in foreclosure?

 

If you are not able to stay in your home, there are still things you can do to make the transition less painful.

• Plan your move – Seek assistance in finding housing and make the move as easy as possible for yourself and your family.  There are state, county and civic assistance programs available.
• Preserve your credit –Seek an “exit plan” that preserves your credit and keeps future options open for you.
• Lay out a future financial plan – Create a future financial plan that is reasonable and achievable so that you and your family are stable and can build your future on solid footing.

The FINAL step is to execute your plan –

If you have been able to stay in your home, you will need to keep your finances in order and possibly make some changes in your lifestyle to maintain your home ownership.  This may necessitate some follow-up counseling or classes in financial management that we can provide.

If you must sell or move, execute your plan to preserve future options and place yourself on the best possible footing.

 

Prepared by Troy Community Works!,

a non-profit community development corporation dedicated to sustaining the  vitality, stability and value of our communities.

 

Troy Community Works!

315 Public Square, SW, Suite 215

Troy Ohio 45373

937 339-1014 / www.troycommunityworks.com