CHARLESTON, W.VA (Hinton News) — Today, the West Virginia Homeowners Rescue Program announces a unique partnership with housing counseling agencies across the state to offer additional help to struggling homeowners.
These agencies offer a variety of services, including credit repair, debt management, mortgage counseling, homeowner education, delinquency/default counseling, and more.
“Homeowners across the state were greatly affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. While the West Virginia Homeowners Rescue Program exists to help homeowners with their delinquent housing costs, we also recognize a need exists for financial counseling,” said Erica Boggess, Executive Director of the West Virginia Housing Development Fund, which administers WVHR. “Through these partnerships, we can connect homeowners with housing counseling services to help them work through circumstances that may affect their ability to maintain homeownership.”
To qualify for assistance through the West Virginia Homeowners Rescue Program, the property must be an owner-occupied, primary residence located in the state. The program can help with past-due utilities, taxes, and other eligible housing costs. Mortgages must be at least 90 days past-due to qualify. However, homeowners who own their homes free and clear may also be eligible for assistance, and homeowners who do not need mortgage assistance may still receive help with other eligible costs.
“The pandemic showed that even the most responsible homeowner can still face a crisis that causes them to fall behind in their housing payments,” Boggess said. “Many of our neighbors lost their jobs, had their wages cut, or saw increased costs because of the pandemic. Inflation and other economic factors make budgets tighter for many families across the state. These housing counseling agencies can help all homeowners, even those who don’t qualify for assistance, get their finances back on track, giving them greater financial security.”
Partner agencies include:
CCCS of the Mid-Ohio Valley
Serving Calhoun, Doddridge, Harrison, Jackson, Mason, Pleasants, Ritchie, Roane, Tyler, Wirt, and Wood
https://www.wvcccs.org/start or call 304-485-3141 option 0 to schedule an appointment
HomeOwnership Center
Serving Barbour, Lewis, Pendleton, Pocahontas, Randolph, Tucker, Upshur, and Webster
https://hocwv.org/get-started/ or call 304-636-9115
Religious Coalition for Community Renewal
Serving Kanawha, Boone, Fayette, and Putnam, as well as virtual counseling across the state as needed.
https://www.rccr.org/home-ownership or call 304-346-6398
Fairmont-Morgantown Housing Authority
Serving Marion, Monongalia, Preston, and Taylor
http://www.fmhousing.com/index.php or call 304-363-0860
CHANGE, Inc.
Serving Brooke, Hancock, Ohio, Marshall, and Wetzel
https://changeinc.org/housing-assistance/#housing-counseling or call 304-797-7733.
Telamon
Serving Berkeley, Jefferson, and Morgan
or call 304-263-0916
Housing Authority of Mingo County
Serving Mingo, Logan, Wayne, McDowell, and Wyoming
http://www.mingohousing.com/home.html or call 304-475-4663
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