{"id":22972,"date":"2023-11-28T14:47:52","date_gmt":"2023-11-28T14:47:52","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.anthonydidonato.net\/wordpress\/?p=22972"},"modified":"2023-11-28T14:47:52","modified_gmt":"2023-11-28T14:47:52","slug":"tools-to-promote-stable-housing","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/www.anthonydidonato.net\/wordpress\/tools-to-promote-stable-housing\/","title":{"rendered":"Tools to Promote Stable Housing"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

REALTORS\u00ae can play a pivotal role in helping state and local governments develop innovative housing stabilization policies for those experiencing ongoing effects from the pandemic. Real estate professionals can also work with federal agencies to help former clients and other individuals who are struggling to find resources to help them remain in their homes. This was the message of speakers at the Housing Opportunity Committee during the National Association of REALTORS\u00ae\u2019 virtual REALTORS\u00ae Legislative Meetings(link is external)<\/a> on Friday.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The HUD Office of Housing Counseling offers a variety of resources to help families and individuals retain their homes, said Paul Yorkis, vice chair of the Housing Opportunity Committee and a member of the Housing Counseling Federal Advisory Committee. Through a network of 1,640 housing counseling agencies, the HUD office can connect people with a participating housing agency through their website, and provide grant funding for qualified applicants. REALTORS\u00ae can assist clients in navigating all that HUD has to offer, including forbearance and mortgage relief, the homeowner assistance fund, and emergency rental assistance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThe resources that are available are unbelievable,\u201d said Yorkis, \u201cand the key here is for each REALTOR\u00ae to be able to add these resources to their toolkit.\u201d He added that even though the resources are intended for housing counselors, that HUD agencies are happy to work with members of NAR and view them as partners. \u201cI\u2019ve used them, and they really work,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Yorkis also noted that helping people can have an unexpected upside. \u201cIf you refer a person to a housing counseling agency,\u201d he said, \u201cafter they\u2019ve done the work, you have a client for life.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Yorkis recommended the following resources:<\/p>\n\n\n\n