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Community Housing Resource Center March 2011 From the Executive Director
For the past eleven years, the premiere event on our
calendar has been our “Home Is Where the Heart Is”
breakfast. This year’s
celebration is almost upon us.
On Friday, March 18th at 7:30 AM, I hope you’ll join
me, the Board of Directors and our premier
sponsor,
Columbia Credit
Union, for a spectacular event at the Red Lion at the Quay.
Please read the article that follows for more information about
this year’s program and how you can reserve a ticket. Later in this newsletter, we also share the newest developments in our free tax preparation program. We’re so grateful that our expert volunteers have returned this year to help us to continue to provide this important service. And while tax season is in full swing at the center, just last month we got a heard start at the 2011 Homeless Connect event organized by the Council for the Homeless. Many individual tax returns were prepared at the
event, placing $7,000 in Earned Income Tax funds into the hands of
homeless, low-income working taxpayers. Several people were able to open
direct deposit accounts with US Bank, and CHRC Counselors Kevin Gillette
and One of the newest resources available at the Center is
the Rehab Loan Program.
Through a partnership with the
City of Finally, I’d like to call your attention to the list of organizations and individuals that provided the Center with financial support so far this quarter. In today’s economy, every gift is meaningful and the generosity and dedication of our supporters deserves special mention. We couldn’t do it without you. Simply put, yours is the heart we celebrate at our annual “Home Is Where the Heart Is” event. You are the reason we can achieve so much. I hope to see you at the Quay. With much thanks,
Teri Duffy, Executive Director
This year we’re pleased to welcome Marc Levy, President and CEO of the United Way of the Columbia-Willamette, to the podium. Marc has a proven track record for success and an extensive background in nonprofit management, resource development and community partnerships. In January 2009, the Portland Business Journal named Marc among the top 20 local leaders whose accomplishments “will set the economic tone for years to come.” With the economic climate still so uncertain for many of the people we serve, we look forward to Marc’s remarks later this month. It’s not too late to sponsor a table at the event or buy a ticket to the 11th annual “Home Is Where the Heart Is” breakfast. Contact Jeri Shumate at 360-690-4496 x 107 or jeri@homecen.org.
Corporations, Foundations and Public and Non-Profit Agencies 211info, Bank of America, Clark County, Daybreak Youth Services, Evergreen Home Loans, Garrow Equity Group, Greater Vancouver Chamber of Commerce, Paul Millius Associates, JP Morgan Chase, OnPoint Community Credit Union, Security Signs, Stewart Title, Umpqua Bank, United Way of the Columbia-Willamette, Washington State Attorney General’s Office, Washington State Housing Finance Commission, West Coast Bank, YWCA of Clark County
Individuals George and Marge Angell, Joan Badertscher, Susan Chambers, Dave Dumas, Leah Higgins, Bryan Halbert, Linda & David Horowitz, Brenda Jose, Carol Keljo, Karl and Dianne Millar, Brad Shumate, Jim Temple Thanks to each
you. We simply couldn’t do
it without you. For a list of past donors, please visit our
Partners page.
A New Program Providing Homeowner Relief
With good reason, much attention has been paid to the current foreclosure crisis. There are far too many stories that need telling where hardworking men and women have lost their home, job or both. What’s been discussed far less is the plight of low-income homeowners who are managing to make their mortgage payment every month but haven’t been able to set anything aside for maintenance issues like a leaky roof or a furnace that finally calls it quits. The Community Housing Resource Center recently took a lead role in a program that addresses those needs for low to moderate-income homeowners in the City of Vancouver. The City of Vancouver’s Rehab Loan Program pairs qualified homeowners with low interest loans up to $25,000. Once approved, the repairs can be made and the money doesn’t have to be paid back until the home is refinanced, the title is transferred or you move out of the home.
For seniors on fixed incomes who want to retain their independence and dignity by continuing to live at home, this can be another option to consider besides taking out a reverse mortgage. The first step to see if you qualify for this program is to contact CHRC Program Manager Kevin Gillette for an appointment. Kevin is a HUD certified Reverse Mortgage counselor and has decades of experience in the mortgage lending industry. He and staff at Unlimited Choices helped the City of Vancouver design the Rehab Loan program three years ago. His expertise is one of the biggest reasons we’ve been able to help so many people in our community keep and maintain their homes. To schedule an appointment with Kevin, call him at 360-690-4496 x 101 or email him at kevin@homecen.org.
This year, through a grant from the United Way of the Columbia-Willamette, we are once again providing this vital community outreach and free tax preparation services. We are also hosting tax preparation services this year, but this time it’s different. Our IRS certified volunteers and Lisa Konopinski, our AmeriCorps volunteer, are helping Clark County residents learn to file their own taxes. The people we serve often qualify for a number of credits or deductions due to their income level. Failure to understand the intricacies of the tax code can result in leaving thousands of dollars on the table - money that can truly make a difference in someone’s life. With help from our IRS certified volunteers and the designation as a pilot IRS free-file site, our clients are taking control of their finances and claiming every dollar they have coming – all free of charge. To schedule a tax appointment, call Lisa at 360-690-4496 x 103. |
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On Friday, March 18th, 2011 from 7:30 - 9:00 am, the Community Housing Resource Center will host our annual
“Home Is Where the Heart Is” breakfast. In the eleven years we’ve been bringing together our supporters for a celebration of our achievements and a hard look at the issues facing us in the coming year, we’ve
hosted a number of distinguished keynote speakers. 
Earlier this year, our financial and homeownership education and counseling programs received a major boost from two long-time funders. We are proud to recognize Wells Fargo and the Vancouver Housing Authority for their commitment to being a part of the solution in our community. Like us, they realize that a sound foundation of financial skills is critical not only to buying a home but to keeping a home or affordable rental unit when the economy takes a difficult turn or a major emergency occurs in any family’s life.
In addition to
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