NeighborWorks® America

Information About Innovation:

Title:

It Takes a Creative Village To Keep a Family in Their Home

Contest Category:

Innovative partnerships to sustain homeownership - 2008

Summary:

Even before the mortgage crisis rocked the nightly news, the Homeownership Resource Center, HRC, a division of Family Services Inc., had already set in motion an innovative approach and begun building a foundation for outreach to sustain homeownership. The innovative approach is the default clinic model and the outreach has become the SC Foreclosure Prevention Taskforce -- both would require families and stakeholders to step outside the box and challenge traditional ways of doing things.

Description:

Since its inception in 2003, the default clinic model has allowed housing counselors to dramatically reduce the length of time required to meet, intake and assess a homeowner's situation. Consider this: Before the model was introduced a counselor who saw 20 clients a week and provided 1.5 hours would spend 30 hours counseling, leaving a scant 10 to complete any other tasks. After the model was introduced, the same counselor could visit with 20 clients in 2.5 hour clinic, complete all intake requirements and still have almost 27.5 hours left in the week. The extra time enables a counselor to hit the ground running. Although there are many, here are three benefits of the default clinic model: 1-It is easy to set up. A large conference room or meeting space such as library works well; 2-The actual process remains the same week to week-intake/formulation of budget/review of foreclosure prevention options/assessment;3-A consistent schedule will net large returns over time. For example, 1/3 of homeowners who sign up to attend will not show for the first clinic. Some don't show up for the second, but when their stress level -- which is pushed to max by calls from the lender -- reaches the breaking point, they will finally push their fear aside and attend the next scheduled clinic -- some just walk in because they know that every 2d and 4th Tuesday a default clinic will be held in the same location at the same time. The morning after the clinic, the foreclosure coordinator begins reviewing and inputting files and securing the necessary authorizations. The final step is to assign the files to a counselor, who calls the clients to introduce themselves and to reassure that our organization is committed to finding the best solution for their particular situation. The counselor begins working the client's file with the singular goal of saving the home.Fast forward to 2007...As the depth of the housing crisis began to take shape nationally, the HRC began reaching out to local stakeholders -- housing experts, community development corporations, local municipalities, political leaders, faith-based organizations, the Federal Reserve and other non profits throughout the state to determine the best course of action. Those initial collaborations have resulted in the development of the SC Foreclosure Prevention Taskforce. The Taskforce has taken the lead in developing an approach that is responsive to the needs of our state: 2 key components in the approach include partnering and expanding the network, and training agencies throughout the state to use the default clinic model. As the nation's housing sector continues to plummet, we continue to encourage all stakeholders and interested parties to join our village. There is still room and definitely time to help at all levels.

Projected Annual Operating Cost:

The cost of creating and implementing the default model clinic has been minimal--our largest expenditures have included purchasing binders, which we make for training agencies, printing the content material, and making flyers and calendars, which we use for advertising. Also, at the actual default clinics, we use red folders for clients so we purchase lots of boxes of folders. We have a terrific and very creative administrative assistant who designs, creates and updates all the forms that we use.

Specific Outcomes or Results in Calender Year 2008:

Since the clinic models began, 420 South Carolina homes have been saved.Since January 2008,* we have trained 75 agencies and individuals to implement the default clinic model;* we have expanded our offering of default clinics beyond Charleston County to Georgetown, Horry and Florence Counties of South Carolina;* the default clinic model has been introduced in the following states: California, Connecticut, Florida, Georgia, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, North Carolina and Ohio.

Web Site (optional):

http://www.familyserviceschassc.com

Information About Organization:

Name:

Family Services Inc.

Address 1:

4925 Lacross Road, Suite 215

City, State, Zip:

North Charleston, SC 29407

501c3 Non-Profit:

yes

Contact Name:

Debbie Kidd

Contact E-Mail:

dkidd@familyserviceschassc.com

Contact Phone:

843/276-8744

Keywords:

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