NEIGHBORHOOD HOUSING DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION

Results: NHDC has built over 250 new, energy efficient, affordable homes, rehabilitated 160 homes and repaired over 150 homes for residents in our service area. NHDC also provides nearly 60 rental housing units and maintains a waiting list of 40-50 residents at any given time. Additionally, we have provided financial counseling to thousands of residents since 1998 and have assisted over 200 clients with mortgage modifications and foreclosure interventions so that they kept their home.

Target demographics: residents with affordable housing needs, home repair, financial education and mortgage modification

Direct beneficiaries per year: 750 individuals with home ownership, home repair, home rental and financial education

Geographic areas served: North Central Florida

Programs: Housing development. NHDC builds new homes and rehabilitates existing homes that are available for sale to home buyers. In addition, NHDC maintains an inventory of single family affordable rental properties that are available for residents, some who aspire to become a home purchaser as our renters always have an option to buy the home they are renting. NHDC administers a variety of home repair assistance initiatives that directly benefit very low and low income owner-occupant households and operates neighborhood stabilization programs in Marion, Clay and Alachua counties. The corporation purchases, rehabilitates and sells homes through contracts with Marion, Clay and Alachua counties. The corporation's rehabilitation costs are reimbursed as incurred. Home ownership preservation. NHDC supports participants in preserving their mortgage through tough economic times. The corporation offers a post-purchase program for recent homebuyers. Class topics include information on property maintenance, energy conservation, and household budgeting. We also provide intensive mortgage delinquency and foreclosure intervention counseling for home owners in financial distress. Our counseling services are one-on-one sessions with a HUD certified professional and are tailored to meet the individual needs of the client. In addition to pre and post purchase questions, other topics include, but are not limited to, fair housing, budget development, credit counseling,predatory lending, and landlord tenant issues. Home ownership promotion. NHDC actively promotes home ownership and offers a financial fitness classes that are eight hour courses broken into four instructional segments that focus on 1) basic money matters, 2) budgeting, 3) credit repair, and 4) other financial topics. The class is intended for households that desire home ownership but have credit or financial obstacles. The course is generally facilitated off-site through a partnership relationship with affiliate social service organizations and groups. NHDC also provides a pre-purchase home buyer education course designed to educate participants about all aspects of the home purchase process featuring industry representatives from the lending, realtor, home inspection, insurance and closing sectors.