OHFA receives $1.3M Allocation to support foreclosure prevention counseling efforts
COLUMBUS, OH – April 19, 2010 – (RealEstateRama) — Today the Ohio Housing Finance Agency (OHFA) announced that it will receive $1,318,451 to support foreclosure prevention counseling efforts across the state. This funding will enable local organizations to continue providing foreclosure counseling to area homeowners in danger of losing their homes.
“It is unrealistic to think homeowners can climb out of the foreclosure crisis that plagues this nation without professional help,” said Doug Garver, OHFA Executive Director. “Housing counseling and education are vital to prevent future foreclosures in Ohio.”
The grant to support OHFA’s foreclosure intervention efforts was provided by funds from the National Foreclosure Mitigation Counseling Program (NFMC). The initial funding was provided by Congress in the FY08 Consolidated Appropriations Act. Additional funding was provided through the Housing and Economic Recovery Act of 2008, the Omnibus Appropriations Act of 2009, and the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2010.
The NFMC Program is administered through a competitive application process by NeighborWorks® America, within guidelines defined by Congressional legislation. NeighborWorks America is an independent, Congressionally-chartered non-profit organization based in Washington, D.C., with a mission to provide access to sustainable homeownership and safe, affordable rental housing. NeighborWorks America received grant requests totaling over $195 million.
“OHFA is tremendously happy that we will be able to sustain our counseling efforts across Ohio where thousands of homeowners are facing foreclosure,” Garver said. “These funds will provide counseling services for approximately 2,500 Ohioans who are facing difficulty while paying their mortgage payments. Housing counseling and assistance is available at any point during the foreclosure process and there are no income limit restrictions.”
The following housing counseling agencies will receive funding from OHFA to sustain counseling efforts in the state: Empowering & Strengthening Ohio’s People (statewide); Stark County Out of Poverty Partnership, Inc. (Canton); Community Housing Solutions (Cleveland); Community Action Partnership of the Greater Dayton Area (Dayton); Working in Neighborhoods (Cincinnati); County Corp (Dayton); Lorain County Community Action Agency (Lorain); WSOS (Fremont); Mid Ohio Regional Planning Commission (Columbus); COAD (Athens); East Akron Neighborhood Dev. Corp. (Akron); Fair Housing Contract Service (Painesville); Fair Housing Resource Center (Painesville); Mustard Seed Development Center (Akron); Fair Housing Center (Toledo); The Housing Advocates, Inc. (Cleveland); The Nord Center (Lorain); Children and Family Services (Youngstown); and Home is the Foundation (Eaton).
For more information about the grant and how it will impact Ohio’s foreclosure prevention efforts, please contact the Ohio Housing Finance Agency.
OHFA utilizes federal and state resources to provide housing opportunities for families and individuals through programs designed to create, preserve, and manage affordable housing throughout the State of Ohio. The Agency is a self-supporting quasi-public agency governed by an eleven-member board, nine of whom are appointed by the Governor and confirmed by the Senate. Two additional seats on the board, by statute, are reserved for the Director of Development and the Director of Commerce, or their designees, and both serve as ex officio voting members.
