JCS

Description:

Pre-Purchase Counseling:
The housing counselors conduct initial interviews to complete the client!s needs assessment, pre-qualification and develop a comprehensive work plan for the individual!s home-buying experience. Clients are informed of other resources available (budget and credit counseling, other grants, etc.) for low to moderate-income home-buyers. If savings assistance is needed, clients are referred to an IDA program.

Home-buyer Education:
Housing counseling clients preparing for home-ownership participate in the eight (8) hour certification seminar, required by HUD and Miami-Dade County for all first-time home-buyers using bond, surtax or MAPP financing. Clients are educated on the home buying process, on various home buying methods and practices and are given scenarios of unscrupulous practices intended to defraud or take advantage home-buyer.

Delinquency/Default Counseling:
Offers referrals to different agencies to help clients.

Non-Delinquent Post Purchase Counseling:
Services provided to homeowners interested in refinancing their present mortgages. Clients participate in one-on-one counseling to ensure they were receiving reasonable interest rates and mortgage terms, as well as prevented them from becoming involved with predatory lenders.

Predatory Lending:
Counselors provide one-on-one counseling to educate clients on their options (refinancing, repayment plan, forbearance, etc.), worked with lenders to resolve the problems or referred particular clients to legal services.

Post-Purchase Counseling:
Counseling for new homeowners that provides insight into the challenges of home-ownership. The seminar addressed issues such as financial management, safety precautions and household maintenance.

Rental Counseling:
Services offered to individuals interested in purchasing a home that are presently residing with others but have found themselves in need of securing permanent housing while preparing for purchase. Clients are assisted in obtaining and utilizing rent subsidies, pre-rental search assistance, mobility counseling, budgeting for rental payment, and education on landlord and renter rights and explained the eviction process; ensuring clients understand their rights when faced with displacement.

Homeless/Displacement Counseling:
Individuals that cannot obtain a permanent residence, if necessary, OLCDC offers referrals to area homeless shelters. The rental counselor engages the shelter prior to referring the client to ensure there is available space for the client.

Home-ownership Voucher Counseling:
In association with Miami-Dade Housing Authority, OLCDC will identify and provide Section 8 voucher recipients with the full spectrum of housing counseling services offered by OLCDC.