Housing Counseling
Catholic Charities Housing Services work with first time homebuyers and people in danger of losing their homes to foreclosure. A housing counselor is HUD certified in homebuyer education and foreclosure counseling. Homebuyer education classes guide first time homebuyers through the process of buying a home. Working individually with homeowners, since the economic crisis of 2008 we have helped hundreds of families avoid foreclosure and maintain stable housing. The St. Joseph Apartments provide safe, stable permanent housing to formerly homeless families who have a family member with a disability. Case management services partner with tenants to help them achieve self-sufficiency.
Home Purchase Education
Realizing the American Dream Group Class
Realizing the American Dream is a Neighborworks curriculum that teaches first-time home buyers how to buy a home. Homeownership strengthens communities because homeowners literally have an investment in where they live.
The obstacles to becoming a homeowner are the basic skills of budgeting, applying for a loan, and understanding that help is there so that renters may realize the dream of owning their own home. When potential home buyers understand the process, they have the confidence to evaluate what they can afford and can go about finding the house that is best for them. When homebuyers understand their investment, there is less likelihood they will walk away from it. Instead, they will take good care of the property and improve it.
Realizing the American Dream consists of a one-day group class or series of individual shorter classes. The class is designed to help potential home buyers learn about the mortgage loan process, how to find the right house, how to budget and use credit, loan closing, foreclosure prevention, basic home maintenance, and avoiding predatory lending.
Individual Pre-Purchase Counseling
There are many steps involved in purchasing a home. The entire process can become confusing to the first time homebuyer. In addition to the Realizing the American Dream class, one-on-one pre-purchase counseling is available by appointment. A housing counselor assists with budget preparation, reviews credit history, and provides the information that first-time homebuyers need. Counselors assist clients in evaluating their mortgage readiness and assessing what they can afford. It is helpful if participants bring current pay stubs, tax returns and W-2 forms for the past two years. If possible, please bring a copy of your free credit report with you to the counseling session.
To learn more about Home Purchase Education, register for Realizing the American Dream Group Class, or schedule an appointment for Individual Pre-Purchase Counseling, call Client Care at 859-581-8974.
Mortgage Default/Delinquency and Foreclosure Prevention Counseling
Anyone can suddenly and unexpectedly end up in financial difficulty, but a homeowner may have more to fear from a long period of unemployment and/or runaway debt.
As a HUD-approved Housing Counseling Agency, Catholic Charities provides free comprehensive counseling for homeowners who are having trouble making their mortgage payments.
Individual one-on-one counseling with a Catholic Charities Housing Counselor will help you to:
- Analyze and assess your situation
- Identify and compile necessary documentation
- Develop a financial plan that will help you manage any debt
- Research available refinance and modification opportunities if appropriate
- Guide you through the process until completion
When appropriate, housing counselors facilitate intervention with lenders to explore alternatives the lender may offer to solve the delinquency.
Catholic Charities is an approved foreclosure intervention/default counseling agency for Kentucky Housing Corporation. The Homeowner Assistance Fund (HOAF) is a program created to mitigate financial hardships associated with the coronavirus pandemic by prviding funds to eligible entities for the purpose of preventing homeowner mortgage delinquencies, defaults, foreclosures, loss of utilities, and displacements of homeowners experiencing financial hardship after January 21, 2022.
Qualified homeowners will be eligible for up to $60,000 to pay eligible expenses caused by the COVID1-19 pandemic.
You must experience an annual loss of income of at least 10% and it must be due to the COVID pandemic.
Your income must be less than 150% of the area median income.
Other qualifications apply. To learn more about the Homeowners Assistance Fund Visit protectmykyhome.org.
To schedule an appointment for Mortgage Default/Delinquency or Foreclosure Prevention Counseling call Client Care at 859-581-8974.
Financial Management /Credit Repair Counseling
Handling money wisely is one of life’s greatest challenges. Catholic Charities Financial Management Counseling is designed to help individuals and families take an in-depth look at income and expenses in order to set a realistic budget as a necessary step to achieve financial goals.
A trained counselor offers options and suggestions that allow clients to use money in the best way possible, take control of their finances, and achieve their goals.
To schedule an appointment for financial management or credit repair counseling, call Client Care for an appointment at 859-581-8974.
Financial Literacy Education
Catholic Charities offers financial literacy education to partner organizations. Using the CreditSmart curriculum, participants learn money management skills that will last a lifetime.
The Curriculum covers topics related to credit, budgeting, and buying a home, and also describes pitfalls to avoid.
If your organization is interested in partnering with Catholic Charities to provide your group with credit education and build sound financial literacy skills, contact Patti Anderson at 859-581-8974 ext. 122.
Equal Housing Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer.