Community Housing Resource Center

From the Executive Director

Hello,

During difficult economic times, we are constantly confronted with need – often very real, acute need.  Knowing how best to help can be overwhelming.   

Recently, the Community Action Partnership conducted a needs assessment for Clark County and identified the top social service priorities.  I’m proud to report that the Community Housing Resource Center addresses not one but two of them: mortgage counseling and money management and budgeting.

You can read the full report here.  Within its pages you will notice an emphasis on meeting the needs of our seniors.  This is an issue we take very seriously here.  A few weeks ago, we were awarded a grant from the Nonprofit Network Giving Circle of Clark County Women to fund our programs for seniors, and the Senior Messenger highlighted our services for their May 2010 issue in a piece you can read here.  Later in this email, we announce that the counseling we provide for reverse mortgages, an important resource to senior homeowners, has been assumed by our Program Manger, Kevin Gillette.

In addition, I’m pleased to welcome two new staff members, Sharon Malpass and Neal McKeever.  Sharon is a long-time volunteer who we convinced to join us our lead Program Assistant and Office Manager.  Neal comes to us with a great deal of experience in financial education and will be providing counseling in both Spanish and English.

I hope that you will join us in our work too. We now accept your donations online.  Please consider making a gift today by clicking here.  Your financial contribution is one clear and impactful way that you can support the work we are doing in the community.  

With much thanks,

Teri Duffy, Executive Director

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Reverse Mortgage Counseling

Earlier this year, our Program Manager, Kevin Gillette, received his certification to provide reverse mortgage counseling at the Center.  A reverse mortgage allows seniors to take out a loan against the equity they have accrued over a lifetime and doesn’t have to be repaid until the house is sold or refinanced.

Unemployment in our area remains painfully high. Although seniors represent a relatively small part of those unemployed, a recent study found that once they lose a job, 30 percent of them will remain without work for at least a year.  That’s the highest rate of any age group. 

A prolonged loss of income can be devastating to someone who wants to maintain the comfort and security of living in their own home.  In some cases, though not all, a reverse mortgage can be the key to turning around a senior’s financial picture in an otherwise contracting economy.

You can find more information on reverse mortgages on our website.  To set up a one-on-one counseling appointment with Kevin, call him at 360-690-4496 ext 101.

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Thinking Nobly, Acting Locally

From left: Shirley Gross and Mary Pringle of the Community Foundation for Southwest Washington deliver a grant to Teri Duffy and Marcel Goulet of the Community Housing Resource Center

The “Community” in Community Housing Resource Center is the reason we come to work in the morning and stay late in the evening.  That’s why it’s so gratifying when funders from our own backyard recognize our programs as an effective and impactful means to meet our common challenges.

This quarter, we received generous contributions from three local funders:  

• The Firstenburg Family Foundation supports the legacy of Edward and Mary Firstenburg by improving the economic conditions and quality of life within the community.
  
  
• The Community Foundation for Southwest Washington collaborates with a broad cross section of citizens, helping them to target and manage their charitable giving to build stronger communities.
  
  
• The Nonprofit Network Giving Circle of Clark County Women provides funding to organizations committed to helping Clark County residents in all life stages lead healthy, self-sufficient lives. 

With assistance from these three local organizations, we are making a profound difference in our community. In addition, we would like to recognize the corporations, individuals and public agencies who also supported our efforts in the second quarter of the year:

Pam Baker, Bank of America Home Loans, Banner Bank, Clark County, Golf Savings Bank, Patti Griffith, Home Inspections of Clark County, Jaima Johnson, JP Morgan Chase Foundation, Janet Lund, Jim Temple, Washington State Housing Finance Commission

Thanks to each of you.  We simply couldn’t do it without you. For a list of past donors, please visit our Partners page.

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Marcel Goulet: In His Own Words

Every year we recognize three individuals who demonstrate a remarkable dedication to the Center and its mission.  One of this year’s honorees was our own Board President, Marcel Goulet.  Marcel’s extraordinary leadership made him an easy choice for the award.

We recently sat down with Marcel and asked him about his involvement with the Center and how it’s grown during his tenure.  Here’s what he had to say:

“When somebody is trying to readdress credit issues that they’ve ignored, when they need help in reaching out to their creditors or, as most recently in the last couple of years, with their mortgage lenders, they have no idea where to start.

There needs to be a resource to give them some comfort, give them some guidance and direction and also provide some advocacy in order to make sure that these issues get addressed once and for all.  Without that, most folks usually will just keep getting in deeper and deeper and essentially find themselves in a situation that they can never get totally out of.

I think the agency has matured to the point where it’s recognized as a solid, valuable resource to the community.  Both from the point of view of the client base and the community leaders, there is a recognition that the Community Housing Resource Center have been the ones who were there when the community needed them, [and that they] continue to be there providing guidance and direction and benefit to the community.” 

Fortunately for the Center and the people we serve, Marcel too will continue to provide guidance, direction and benefit, through his current Board term, and if we’re lucky, beyond.

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A New Tradition - Save the Date  

Earlier this year we celebrated our 10^th annual Home Is Where the Heart Is breakfast event.  Later this summer, we’ll usher in a brand new tradition, our first annual Board Member House Party at the home of Chrissy Cole.

Chrissy officially rejoined the Board of Directors in March although she’s been on our Development Committee since last October and chaired last year’s Home Is Where the Heart Is event.  This is her second tour on the Board and we’re grateful to once again have her passion and commitment guiding this organization. 

More details will follow in the coming months.  For now, please mark Thursday, September 9^th from 5:00 to 8:00 pm on your calendar for a fun and informative evening in honor of the Community Housing Resource Center and the clients we serve.

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