Become our friend on facebook and you’ll find links to interesting articles about homeless and preventing homelessness around the state. See our facebook page to find out more at http://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/Ottawa-Area-Housing-Coalition/178365112200570
Community Mental Health provides abundant links to community resources available to support persons with disabilities. Learn more on their website at www.miottawa.org/HealthComm/CMH/resources.htm
Find bargains on home improvement items and help support Lakeshore Habitat for Humanity by shopping at Habitat’s ReStore, located at 12727 Riley Street in Holland.
The Holland Rescue Mission will host speaker and author Mike Yankoski at its annual event on September 24, 2011.
Yankoski is the author of Under the Overpass—the story of his intentional journey on the streets of six major American cities as a homeless man–and Zealous Love: A Practical Guide to Social Justice.
For details and to register, call Holland Rescue Mission at 616.396.2200, email rachaeln@hollandrescue.org, or visit http://www.hollandrescue.org/653705.ihtml?ei_se_Page=EventDetails&ei_se_EventID=2074
Applications are being accepted for Supportive Housing apartments currently or soon-to-be available in Grand Haven, Holland, Zeeland, Douglas, Fenville, and Otsego.
The Ottawa County Supportive Housing program provides safe, affordable housing options for people who are disabled and have low income due to their disability. The program currently has 45 rental housing units scattered throughout Holland, Zeeland, and Grand Haven, with vacancies in all three cities.
Applicants must meet income and other guidelines. For more information or for an application, visit heritagehomesinc.org/available-apartments.html
Join Good Samaritan Ministries later this month for a Free Community Resource Day for Affordable Health and Simple Living.
Information will be available on affordable ideas in housing, health, education, and recreation. And speakers will present every half hour on topics including energy conservation, volunteerism, and more.
Feel free to join in on this learning event on August 30, 2011 from 3-7pm at the Holland Farmer’s Market Area (The Civic Center).
Michigan’s foreclosure crisis is expected to persist for another year, but Ottawa County leaders in the Campaign to End Homelessness say free counseling, free legal services and in many cases direct financial assistance are available to help struggling families save their homes.
The Michigan Foreclosure Task Force reports that more than 220,000 homes have been foreclosed on in the state since 2009. The total is expected to climb to about 327,000 by the end of 2012, according to Neeta Delaney, co-director of the task force.
State and local leaders in the Campaign to End Homeless are working to minimize the number of foreclosures by pointing homeowners to free professional services to help families regain their footing and keep their homes. The state also has nearly $500 million in federal money available for short-term assistance.
“Homeowners have a much better chance of keeping their homes if they take advantage of available help and act promptly,” Gwen Robles, Community Action House foreclosure counselor said. “They are entitled to a 90-day window to stay in their homes if they work with a housing counselor and the lender.”
“The first thing to do is make sure you are opening your mail and communicating with your lender. Not opening the mail is a huge factor in people losing their homes,” said Delaney, of the Foreclosure Task Force. She further explained that as soon as people become aware that they may have trouble with mortgage payments, they should reach out to a certified foreclosure counselor.
“Unfortunately, there are still many families in the Ottawa County area who are at risk of losing their homes because they have lost jobs or are earning less,” said Andrea Fantin, foreclosure counselor also of Community Action House said. “We have excellent resources available, but it’s important for people to acknowledge their situation and take action.”
“With the increased number of foreclosures, it’s to be expected that it is going to result in some families becoming homeless or at the very least finding themselves precariously housed,” said Jason Weller, executive director of the Michigan Coalition Against Homelessness. “Michigan is blessed with a solid network of housing counselors to help.” Certified housing counselors are available in Ottawa County to provide free assistance to those who have fallen behind on mortgage payments and are concerned about foreclosures. Free legal services are also available. “Our counselors have had a lot of success in bringing homeowners together with lenders and preventing foreclosures,” said Lyn Raymond, Coordinator of the Ottawa County Continuum of Care.
The Holland City Council is currently debating about whether to continue funding local agencies that provide services to residents of the city. Saving homes from foreclosure benefits everyone in the community. “Of the 56 homes Community Action House foreclosure intervention specialists have assisted in saving in the past year, 12 were in the City of Holland. That translates to nearly $28,000 in property taxes, not to mention nearly $80,000 in potential revenue to the public schools system because of the minor children in those households,” said Robles.
Financial assistance is also available in many circumstances. The federal government allocated $498.6 million for the Helping Michigan’s Hardest Hit Homeowners’ program, according to Mary Townley, director of Homeownership for the Michigan State Housing Development Authority (MSHDA). The Hardest Hit program is expected to assist more than 50,000 households. Homeowners can begin the process of applying for assistance online at www.stepforwardmichigan.org. Homeowners can receive money in three circumstances:
Do you dream of home ownership?
Community Action Houses’ First Time Homebuyer’s Class can help make that dream a reality. The three-week class gives you the knowledge needed to find a home you can afford and acquire the financing you need to buy it.
The class is free and meets weekly on Wednesday evenings from 6-8pm at the Macatawa Resource Center on 136th Avenue in Holland. Topics include:
For registration and other information, go to http://www.communityactionhouse.org/documents/First-Time%20Homebuyer%27s%20Brochure%202011.pdf
Center For Women In Transition’s spring newsletter is available online.
Find it here at www.aplaceforwomen.org/downloads/2011/CWIT-Spring-Newsletter.pdf
Arbor Circle provides counseling services to more than 10,000 people annually in Kent, Ottawa, and Newago Counties—offering a variety of programs, including outpatient counseling, in-home counseling and intervention, mentoring programs, a runaway shelter, and school-based services—all with the goal of transforming the family cycle and bringing health and hope to individuals and families.
Seventy percent of Arbor Circle clients earn less than $15,000 per year. These are individuals and families at the absolute bottom of the income scale whose lives are stretched even further by substance abuse and mental health issues. Without Arbor Circle, most of these people would have extremely limited access to the services and education that can make a real difference in their lives.
Arbor Circle accepts Medicaid, Medicare, and most forms of insurance. Some programs are available at no cost.
Learn more about their work at www.arborcircle.org/information.html
