Neighborhood Housing Services Of Greater Berks Inc

Programs: Real estate and rehabilitation:the organization seeks to remove blighted properties through purchase and renovation, with subsequent resale to first time homebuyers. In addition, the organization acts as a consultant to provide administration of rehabilitation programs run by other entities. Real estate and rehabilitation constructs new affordable homes on a scattered site basis outside the city for first-time homeowners and provides technical assistance to the home repair programs and operation facelift. 2014 program accomplishments:administered $95,460 in grants and 3% loans to 39 reading/berks homeowners for necessary home repairs; built 2 new homes in muhlenberg township for resale and sold two nhs renovated city homes completed in 2014. Total community investment by nhs for building and repair was $258,000.

home ownership center:the organization offers assistance through a variety of programs to clients who are preparing to become homeowners, and offers several types of loans to assist first-time homebuyers. The programs include lending for home purchase assistance and home repairs, homebuyer education, and budget and credit counseling. 2014 program accomplishments:the homeownership center assisted 56 berks families to buy their first home, lending a record $854,000 in hop loans (down payment and closing cost assistance), a 237% increase over 2013. We assisted 56 renters to become first-time homeowners locally, resulting in a community 336 families benefited from the fastrac homebuyer education, budget/credit counseling (not including foreclosure services) our total hop loan portfolio remained strong relative to the national economy with 90-day delinquents averaging 2-3%/month and total delinquency from 5. 6 to 8%(by $ volume. )through our foreclosure mitigation counseling over 150 berks families have been assisted through the foreclosure process. The county mortgage foreclosure diversion program experienced a 19% success rate.

neighborhood building:the organization provides a number of neighborhood-based initiatives designed to empower the residents to control their environment. During this year, the organization provided assistance in running resident meetings, providing resources and leadership training throughout the year. It assists the community in gathering volunteers for clean-ups and repair efforts such as operation facelift. 2014 program accomplishments:operation facelift brought out over 114 volunteers to clean-up and fix-up 11 homes and the 10th & south playground at no cost to homeowners. There were 822 volunteer hours and the estimated value of the repairs was $39,537.

state-wide lending:the organization is collaborating with six other established neighborworks organizations that cover the majority of pennsylvania in their collective service areas. In the interest of providing financial assistance to low/moderate income clients seeking first time home ownership in their regions, the organization was asked to lead the creation of a lending effort, whereby the organization could provide lending services and capital to their constituents who qualify. In december 2014, the organization was incorporated and just began efforts to raise lending capital in support of this initiative. No capital has been committed as of december 31, 2014.