Counseling Program Saves Family Home

Luis and Sarah Rodriguez live in a safer more comfortable home at a lower cost thanks to Miami Valley CAP’s counseling programs.

In addition to working with first-time homebuyers, MVCAP’s Housing and Financial Counseling program helps struggling homeowners stay in their home or find new housing. The Rodríguezes were able to keep their home and lower their mortgage and utility costs thanks to the assistance they received.

“We were connected to all kinds of resources,” Luis said. “For being a difficult time in our lives, it was a lot more manageable thanks to the folks at MVCAP and everyone they connected us to.”

When Luis met Housing and Financial Counseling Director Vicki Rish, he had already secured a forbearance from his mortgage company after losing his job in city planning. With the forbearance of his previous FHA loan expired, he looked for HUD certified counselors in the area and found MVCAP.

“MVCAP was a lifesaver,” Luis said. “She ran me through the entire process. Our energy costs were high because of a bad valve in our furnace.”

Rish also connected the family with MVCAP’s Home Weatherization Assistance Program which replaced their furnace and hot water heater and insulated their home. They were also eligible for the Electric Partnership Program which replaced their refrigerator. They also enrolled in the Percentage of Income Payment Plan (PIPP) which has brought their monthly bills down.

MVCAP also connected Luis with local churches for food supplies and funds to acquire copies of everyone’s birth certificate so they could apply for all the programs.

“We were able to leverage a lot of different programs,” he said.

Meanwhile, Luis drew unemployment and began finding work. Thanks to keeping his commercial drivers’ license updated, he has been working as a tractor-trailer driver in the region with routes that allow him to be home every night. Meanwhile, Sarah is able to stay home with their three children, ages 4, 3, and 18 months.

The Rodriguez home is safer, more comfortable and refinanced with a mortgage payment lower by $500 a month, he added.

“We almost lost our home. Six months ago, we were thinking sell or be foreclosed,” Luis said. “Two days ago, I got a lower bill.”

Luis said he continues to share information about MVCAP with friends and family members and encourages everyone to seek help if they need it.

“It amazes me that people haven’t heard about it,” he said. “I hope our experience makes people who are on the fence about applying go ahead and apply.”