Search

Site map

Sections:
Home Page

Gifts & Grants

Fund Raising

Managing Nonprofit Groups

Technology

Philanthropy Today

Jobs

Features:
Guide to Grants

The Nonprofit Handbook

Facts & Figures

Events

Deadlines

The Chronicle in Print:
Current Issue

Back Issues

Sponsored Information
Products & Services:
Directory of Services

Guide to Managing Nonprofits

Continuing-Education Guide

Fund-Raising Services Guide

Technology Guide

Customer Service:
About The Chronicle

How to Contact Us

How to Subscribe

How to Register

Manage Your Account

How to Advertise

Press Inquiries

Feedback

Privacy Policy

User Agreement

Help


The Chronicle of Philanthropy
Government and Politics Watch

January 08, 2008

Charities Win Federal Aid to Help Homeowners Facing Housing Crises

NeighborWorks America, a Washington charity that works to strengthen neighborhoods and boost homeownership, has been awarded a $180-million federal grant to help nonprofit groups and government agencies provide counseling services to homeowners facing foreclosure.

The money, part of an appropriations bill the President signed into law last month, will be available to organizations approved by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development to serve as “housing counseling intermediaries.”

Those organizations—which include Catholic Charities USA and the National Urban League—can then channel the money to local organizations and affiliates to help them expand or develop counseling programs designed to keep homeowners from losing their homes to foreclosure.

Such programs educate mortgage holders about their options when they fall behind in their payments and, in some instances, can help homeowners negotiate a new payment plans with lenders.

The appropriation also allows NeighborWorks to spend as much as $5-million on its own efforts to train additional housing counselors nationwide. The charity is required to make regular reports to report to the House and Senate Committees on Appropriations as well as to the Senate Banking Committee on the status of their efforts to reduce mortgage foreclosures.

NeighborWorks has 60 days to distribute the first $50-million of the total and is currently determining what parts of the country face the highest need for assistance.

Many social-service groups say they have been struggling to provide such assistance, according to an article in The Chronicle of Philanthropy.

— Brennen Jensen

Commenting is closed for this article.




Copyright © 2008 The Chronicle of Philanthropy