The Network also has helped more than 75 low- and moderate-income homeowners retain ownership of their homes by providing assistance with needed repairs or foreclosure counseling.
The Missoula Homeownership Network includes more than a dozen special financing programs to help thousands who already own their homes with maintenance and repair costs as well as foreclosure prevention. All of these programs are working together to encourage and support homeownership for Missoula's low- and moderate-income people.
HomeWORD had 313 households complete homeownership classes, of which 127 were successful in buying a home, a 41 percent success rate compared to 18 percent for similar classes nationally. Of these, 70 low- and moderate-income homebuyers together received over $1.44 million in special financing to purchase homes in Missoula County, including down payment and special second-mortgage financing for first-time homebuyers. The Human Resource Council made 20 home repair loans totaling $218,800 within Missoula County, while the Tool Library lent over 1,200 tools to its 171 new-member households. WORD's Family Basics foreclosure prevention program answered more than 160 calls and counseled over 55 households to help them keep their homes.The NeighborWorks Missoula Homeownership Network offers a variety of classes and workshops. The schedule for the next month of classes and workshops in the Missoula area follows:
Monday, Feb. 4, noon, and Thursday, Feb. 28, 5:30 p.m. - Assessing Homebuyer Readiness Workshop: a quick estimate of participant's potential to purchase a home, based on assessment of income and debt and qualifications for special first-time homebuyer programs, with suggestions on the next steps toward homeownership. Free. Tuesdays and Wednesdays, Feb. 12, 13, 19 and 20, 6-9 p.m. - Get Ready for Homeownership: Comprehensive, nationally certified class on the steps to homeownership. Requires attendance all four evenings. Free.Classes are held at homeWORD Homeownership Center, 127 N. Higgins Ave., Room 303. Call 543-3550. You must be preregistered to attend.
The NeighborWorks Missoula Homeownership Network monthly column features programs and events for Missoula's low- and moderate-income homeowners and first-time homebuyers.
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