H.O.M.E. Program Ready to Begin Classes Here

The H.O.M.E. Counseling Program that was first highlighted in our February 2005 FSS Newsletter is now ready to begin enrolling participants into the counseling program. Below find information about the particulars of the program.

If you are interested in participating in this program, you will need to contact Ohio Regional Development Corporation at 1-800-581-3247 and tell them you are interested in enrollment in the HOME program for Tuscarawas County.

Through the efforts of Ohio Regional Development Corporation, a new financial literacy program is being developed and will be offered to Tuscarawas County residents. This program should be of significant interest to FSS clients, especially those with the ultimate goal of homeownership.

Known as HOME an acronym standing for Housing Ownership Money and Education, this program will be a multi-facetted learning experience that will address home ownership and financial literacy. The goal of the program is to provide educational opportunities and information to low to moderate income individuals who are currently renting and wish to position themselves to become homeowners in the future.

The target population would include those renters currently receiving some sort of rent subsidy as well as those renters responsible for the entire amount of their rental payments.

The curriculum includes instruction on making responsible and wise financial choices, budgeting, proper use of credit, and the importance of making timely payments.

The goal is to assist renters wishing to move from subsidized rentals to open market rentals, also for those renters wishing to move from open market rentals to permanent homeownership. This will be accomplished through education, fiscal management and planning.

Are you in a position to potentially become a homeowner? This component includes such topics as: maintaining a good credit rating, planning for the necessities of homeownership, the responsibilities of home maintenance, the home-buying process, including working with a real estate professional, obtaining a mortgage loan and the closing process.

The goal of this component of the program is to help insure that the prospective homeowner is a well educated consumer who is in a position to make responsible and wise financial choices.

The program will also advise the participants of additional programs in the community which can also assist them in their home purchase including the CHIP (Community Housing Improvement Program). The CHIP can provide down payment assistance to eligible families.

The program will be in a classroom type format to solicit group discussion on some of the issues being raised. The first class is not yet scheduled. If you are interested in this exciting new program, call Marty at (330) 308-8099 and express your interest in the program.