NEWSBRIEF :: HOMELESS PREVENTION $ FOR HOMEOWNERS

ALAEH Members Take Note…

Governor Bentley Announces Foreclosure Prevention

Help for Unemployed Alabama Homeowners



MONTGOMERY-Governor Robert Bentley announced today the creation of Hardest
Hit Alabama (HHA), a new program providing $162 million for the prevention
of foreclosure in Alabama.



In August 2010, the U.S. Department of Treasury announced $2 billion in
federal funding to provide additional assistance targeted at unemployed
homeowners in states with the highest unemployment rates. The Alabama
Housing Finance Authority has been allocated approximately $162 million in
federal funds to help unemployed or underemployed homeowners with temporary
assistance to avoid foreclosure while they are unemployed.



“Record foreclosures and continued high unemployment are causes for concern
for our state,” said Governor Bentley. “Homeowners who have experienced a
temporary loss of income can benefit from short-term assistance to help
bridge the gap until they have restored their income. This assistance is
designed to help families stay in their homes until they can they find
employment.”



Eligible homeowners will receive assistance to pay their mortgage payments
and all other mortgage-related expenses, including payments on any
subordinate liens, while unemployed or underemployed. HHA will provide up to
12 monthly mortgage payments, or $15,000, per household.

Alabama homeowners who have been declared eligible by the Alabama Department
of Industrial Relations to receive state unemployment compensation benefits,
either due to unemployment or underemployment, may apply. To qualify,
applicants must currently have a total annual household income of less than
$75,740, and the unpaid principal balance on their home’s mortgages must be
less than $258,690. The homeowner must currently occupy the property as
their primary residence, and the home must be located in Alabama. Assistance
will be available for single-family homes, attached or detached, and
manufactured housing attached to real property. 



“Responsible families across the state have found themselves unable to pay
their mortgages due to joblessness,” said AHFA Executive Director Robert
Strickland. “These homeowners are generally not eligible for loan
modifications, putting them at substantial risk of mortgage default and
foreclosure.”



HHA is now accepting applications from homeowners struggling to pay their
mortgage payments due to job loss. The program is being administered by the
Alabama Housing Finance Authority. Interested homeowners must submit an
application for Hardest Hit assistance through a secure website
(www.HardestHitAlabama.com <http://www.hardesthitalabama.com/> ). HHA is
available statewide to qualified homeowners on a first-come, first-served
basis.

Citizens needing information on regarding eligibility or to apply can visit
www.HardestHitAlabama.com <http://www.hardesthitalabama.com/>  or call
1.877.497.8182.

Founded in 2005, Still Serving Veterans (SSV) has helped more than 1,000 wounded veterans and their families connect with the services they need to deal with life changing injuries while reintegrating into civilian lives and careers. Based in Huntsville, Alabama, SSV has become a nationally-recognized center of excellence as a grass roots-level reintegration orchestrator for wounded veterans and their families. SSV bridges the gaps, helping veterans assess their medical, vocational and counseling needs, and then connecting those veterans with existing federal, state and local support services.

Our critical asset is our thorough knowledge of what services are available and the processes for obtaining those services, combine with caring case workers who understand the unique needs of combat veterans.

As an accepted role model, SSV has been encouraged by the offices of the Secretary of Veterans Affairs, the Department of Defense, the U.S. Army Wounded Warrior Program and other organizations to expand its service to help wounded veterans and their families in other regions of the U.S.

The wars in Iraq and Afghanistan are causing unprecedented numbers of traumatic, life-changing wounds. More than 35,000 service members have been wounded, more than 6,000 of those are severely disabled. There are 50,000 documented cases of post-traumatic stress disorder, with estimates that at least 200,000 additional cases have not been diagnosed, are unreported or have not yet manifested.

Youth in Alabama may be faced with a difficult set of circumstances when they turn 18. In Alabama, a parent’s legal responsibility ends at when a child turns 18, even though a person is not considered a contractual adult until he or she turns 19 years old.

This means a parent of a gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgendered and questioning or queer youth can force a young adult from his or her home if they do not approve of his or her sexual orientation or gender identity at 18, and this young adult will not be able to sign a lease or other contracts until he or she is 19. The year in between can be one of homelessness.

 

This legislation is named in honor of the late Frank Melville, the first Board Chair of the Melville Charitable Trust. Frank Melville and the entire Melville Charitable Trust family have been national leaders in promoting supportive housing as a highly successful and cost-effective best practice that can prevent and end unnecessary institutionalization and homelessness among people with the most significant and long-term disabilities.

Come join others in our community who have a heart from the homeless. Invite all of your friends who share our mutual passion for these incredible people! Our desire is to provide more opportunities for a provision of community resources to those in need by knowing each other and working together. The Heart For The Homeless Gathering will be on February 21st from 6pm to 8pm CST at The Rock Family Worship Center in Huntsville at 2300 South Memorial Parkway, Huntsville, AL 35801. The Rock Family Worship Center requests you please enter through the doors closest to the Office Depot next door.

Hundreds of ex-servicemembers roam Tennessee Valley streets

Donnie Jones from Operation: Stand Up presented today at the NACH Agency meeting. Operation: Stand Up is an out-growth from Donnie’s work with Operation: Stand-Down, and this new project focuses on helping homeless veterans regardless of the nature of their military discharge. Though only in its infancy Donnie’s original work with OSD and the other committed members have given this new venture a running start to provide more service to homeless veteran community. Watch for more information as things develop for this new member of NACH.

Oxford House is a concept in recovery from drug and alcohol addiction. In its simplest form, an Oxford House describes a democratically run, self-supporting and drug free home. Parallel to this concept lies the organizational structure of Oxford House, Inc. This publicly supported, non-profit 501(c)3 corporation is the umbrella organization which provides the network connecting all Oxford Houses and allocates resources to duplicate the Oxford House concept where needs arise.

The number of residents in a House may range from six to fifteen; there are houses for men, houses for women, and houses which accept women with children. Oxford Houses flourish in metropolitan areas such as New York City and Washington D.C. and thrive in such diverse communities as Hawaii, Washington State, Canada and Australia; but they all abide by the basic criteria.

Each House represents a remarkably effective and low cost method of preventing relapse. This was the purpose of the first Oxford House established in 1975, and this purpose is served, day by day, house after house, in each of over 1,200 houses in the United States today.

NACH Notice: The latest yearly membership application form has been updated and posted to the website for your convenience! Revised membership rolls will begin to be generated within the month. If you or your agency would like to become a member of the Coalition please visit us at http://nachcares.org for application information. Please note that individual memberships are now $25 and agency memberships are $100. Look for our newsletter, coming soon!