Home HeadQuarters receives $46,000 to Support Foreclosure Prevention Counseling Efforts

Grant provides much-needed boost to Onondaga County homeowners in danger of foreclosure

Home HeadQuarters has received just over $46,000 to support its Foreclosure Prevention Program in a competitive grant process announced last week. The much-needed boost will enable the organization to provide foreclosure counseling throughout Onondaga County and support additional foreclosure counseling staff. The existing Home HeadQuarters’ Foreclosure Prevention Program, supported through the city of Syracuse, is focused primarily on city homeowners.

"This grant will allow Home HeadQuarters to better meet the ever-increasing demand from all area homeowners in danger of foreclosure,” said Kerry Quaglia, Home HeadQuarters Executive Director. “We have always received calls from homeowners throughout Central New York, and now we can better serve them."

The grant to support Home HeadQuarters’ foreclosure counseling intervention efforts was provided by funds from the National Foreclosure Mitigation Counseling Program. Approved by Congress in the FY08 Consolidated Appropriations Bill, the National Foreclosure Mitigation Counseling Program is administered through a competitive application process by NeighborWorks® America, within guidelines defined by Congressional legislation. NeighborWorks America is an independent, Congressionally-chartered non-profit organization based in Washington,D.C., with a mission to provide access to sustainable homeownership and safe, affordable rental housing.

For more information regarding Home HeadQuarters’ Foreclosure Prevention Program, please call (315) 474-1939 x246 or email info@homehq.org.

Since 1996, more than 1,600 first-time home buyers have received Down Payment and Closing Cost Assistance totaling more than $4.6 million to purchase homes in Syracuse. These first-time homebuyers have helped to generate $109 million in home purchase mortgage financing and $7.1 million in realtor commissions.

Darlene’s Story - Cicero

FlexFund/NYSERDA Customer

Darlene lives in Cicero, New York with her brother in a home their father built in 1952.  Other than her four years away at college and the first year and a half during construction, Darlene has lived in this home all of her life.  She moved back in with her parents after college to care for her ailing father, stayed to care for her mother and now takes care of her brother who, six years ago, was diagnosed with complete kidney failure. 

This winter season she finally faced replacing the 50+ year old furnace.  At 57 years old and working two jobs, Darlene planned to pay for the new furnace by closing out a retirement fund that she had built working as a substitute teacher. 

“I figured that it had to be done, there was no getting around it, and there was no way anyone was going to lend me the money to do it,” said Darlene.

Darlene’s contractor suggested she contact Home HeadQuarters for affordable financing through their FlexFund Home Improvement Program.  When she contacted Home HeadQuarters, Darlene also discovered that she could qualify for special incentives, including a matching grant through Home HeadQuarters’ NYSERDA Home Energy Improvement Program.  With the energy grant, Darlene and her brother were able to add air conditioning to their home, which is critical for a person suffering with kidney failure.

For Darlene, working with Home HeadQuarters through the FlexFund Program made it both affordable and convenient to make the much-needed improvements to her home.

 “We never could have afforded the whole thing otherwise and it will just mean a better quality of life for my brother,” said Darlene.  “This is such a great program.  I never felt like I had a stupid question or that anyone was too busy to help me.  I felt like everyone really cared and wanted to help.”

Click here to view a NYSERDA Energy Improvement Loan Application

Click here to view a FlexFund Home Improvement Loan Application

Near Westside Neighborhood Snapshot

As Home HeadQuarters Staff continue to work with an amazing number of residents on the Near Westside providing many with home and energy improvement grants, others with homeownership and financial counseling, and still more with simply a friendly and receptive ear towards improving their neighborhood and living conditions, we thought it would be interesting to share a few demographic indicators for the neighborhood. The graphs were put together by Home HeadQuarters’ planner Alys Mann, and are based on information gathered through the US Census Bureau.

Syracuse City Living Expo

Saturday, May 3rd • 12-3pm
Lincoln Middle School, James Street

Join more than 50 vendors at the 11th annual Syracuse City Living Expo showcasing all aspects of buying a home in the city, from qualifying for a mortgage to joining a local neighborhood association. 

This FREE event offers exhibits, workshops and same-day neighborhood open houses.  Visit local REALTORS, mortgage lenders, housing not-for-profits, government representatives, neighborhood associations, home inspectors, credit counselors and more!

If you are interested in exhibiting, please contact Home HeadQuarters at 474-1939 x249 or at info@homehq.org.

Home HeadQuarters is a not-for-profit organization committed to creating housing and related opportunities that improve the lives of underserved Central and Upstate New York people and revitalize the communities in which they live. Established in 1996, Home HeadQuarters offers Nationally-certified Homebuyer Education for first time homebuyers, financial and homeownership counseling, Foreclosure Prevention and real estate planning and development. Home HeadQuarters is also one of the largest regional providers of affordable home and energy improvement loans and grants to area homeowners.