Housing

Behind on your mortgage?
Maybe we can help! Contact us for information on how to keep your home!

No one should wait to start the conversation with their mortgage servicer.

Contact Catholic Charities' HUD-certified Mortgage Foreclosure Prevention Counselor at 607-317-5753 for free, confidential advice on how to keep your home.

We offer free credit counseling, financial management, and assistance negotiating with lenders. We work to find solutions for individuals and families in need, whether it’s saving their homes or rebuilding financial solvency, we are here to help.
We serve Chemung, Schuyler, Tompkins & Tioga Counties.
Funded through the New York State Attorney General Homeownership Protection Program.

For COVID-19 Mortage Relief, click the tab for more information.

HUD’s Homeowner’s Guide to Success
Guide du succès pour le propriétaire

The COVID-19 pandemic has made it harder for millions of homeowners to pay their mortgages. To reduce the risk of widespread foreclosures, Congress passed the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES Act) (Mar. 27, 2020). The CARES Act gives some borrowers temporary protection from foreclosure. But about a third of all borrowers are not covered. This article explains who is covered by the CARES Act, what it offers, how to help those who are covered, and how to help those who are not. Our thanks to the National Consumer Law Center and LAWNY for providing this information.

Please contact Catholic Charities of Chemung/Schuyler to talk with our skilled Housing Counselors who can help you work through this information and determine what course of action is best for you: Karen Wheeler (734-9784 x2132).

Homeowners Protected by the CARES Act

The CARES Act mortgage relief provisions apply to “federally backed mortgage loans,” defined as first or second mortgages on 1–4 family homes (including cooperative and condominium units) issued, purchased, or backed by the following agencies:
Fannie Mae or Freddie Mac;
U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA);
Federal Housing Administration (FHA), including home equity conversion (HECM) reverse mortgages, and mortgages under the Indian Home Loan Guarantee program; and
U. S. Department of Agriculture (USDA).

• Assistance for Homeowners with Federally Backed Mortgages
  If the borrower has a federally backed mortgage loan, the CARES Act provides two kinds of relief: a foreclosure moratorium and the right to a forbearance.
  - Foreclosure Moratorium. CARES ACT forbids servicers of federally backed mortgage loans from “initiat[ing] any judicial or nonjudicial foreclosure process, mov[ing] for a foreclosure judgment or order of sale, or execut[ing] a foreclosure-related eviction or foreclosure sale” through May 17, 2020. This applies only to occupied properties and does not require the homeowner to take any action. Nevertheless, contact the servicer’s attorney to ensure that any scheduled foreclosure is canceled.
  - Forbearance of Mortgage Payments and How to Get One. A forbearance is a temporary suspension of the borrower’s duty to make full mortgage payments and the mortgage creditor’s right to enforce any delinquency.

Homeowners Who Do NOT Have a Federally Backed Mortgage Loan

If a homeowner has a mortgage loan that does not meet the definition of a “federally backed mortgage loan,” CARES Act protections do not apply (except for the credit reporting provisions in CARES Act § 4021, discussed above).

• State Foreclosure Relief
  Many states have adopted broad foreclosure moratoriums that protect borrowers regardless of loan type, and some states have instituted mortgage loan forbearance programs. New York State has issued orders related to forbearance. Contact Catholic Charities' Housing Counselors for more information.
• Voluntary Federal Guidance
  Federal bank regulators have issued guidance encouraging institutions to work with borrowers and relaxing some standards that may previously have limited a servicer’s flexibility to offer relief.
• How to Get Non-CARES Act Relief and What to Ask For
  Borrowers should contact their servicer by phone or online. Online may be the faster option as servicers are currently overwhelmed by the number of calls they are receiving. Log in to the borrower’s account and see what options the servicer is offering. It may be possible to apply online. Borrowers can also request assistance by writing to the servicer.

Contact our Housing Counseling Services for help: Karen Wheeler at 734-9784 x2132.

Want help learning how to make large purchases without going into debt?
Need to clean up your credit?
Want to create an emergency fund?
Call 607-317-5753, or email Karen today!

Serving Chemung, Schuyler, Steuben, Tompkins & Tioga Counties.

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Browse Money as You Grow for 20 things kids need to know to live financially smart lives. Broken up by age group, you’ll find ideas & activities from 3 years old to young adults!

 

We assist income-eligible, low to moderate-income individuals or families with down payment and closing cost assistance in purchasing their first home in the City of Elmira by offering a grant in the amount of $10,000 that is forgiven after five years. The City of Elmira contracts with Catholic Charities to administer this program. For more information, please contact Kathy at 607-317-5677.

We offer a Workshop for First Time Homebuyers.
Please note: the down-payment assistance grant is only for purchase in the City of Elmira, but anyone is welcome at the workshop.

As of 1/31/22, there have been 478 successful first-time homebuyers through our program!

• Eviction notices - Please bring proof of income for the last 30 days.
• The Home Energy Assistance Program (HEAP) - Access HEAP applications online: New York State website.
• Homeless - Come to the Samaritan Center during business hours (8:30 am - 4:00 pm). Please bring proof of income for the last 30 days and proof of homelessness when possible.
• At-risk of homelessness - Please bring proof of income for the last 30 days.

• Eviction notices - Go to DSS first and bring a copy of the 1-2-3 form that you’re given. Proof of eviction or homelessness, IDs, and Social Security cards for all household members, and proof of income for the last 30 days are also needed.
• Shut-off notices - You must have a shut-off with proof and documentation. You must also go to DSS first and bring a copy of the 1-2-3 form that you’re given.
• The Home Energy Assistance Program (HEAP) - Access HEAP applications online: New York State website.
• Homeless - You must be staying in the hotel with a voucher from DSS, living in a car, or on the street with a serious mental illness, HIV, AIDS, or substance abuse disorder. 
• At-risk of homelessness - Please bring proof of income for the last 30 days.