 |
Issue 2 |
"This is an example
of how Community Builders and Public Trust Officers can work together to
meet Departmental goals and better serve our customers." |
HUD Teamwork Supports Creation of Statewide Housing Counseling Curriculum Housing counselors in the state of Mississippi had the best of intentions when they set up a wide variety of homeownership programs for first-time homebuyers. However, the multitude of programs were a mystery to most Mississippians. Each of the numerous housing counseling classes offered consumers only limited information on the array of discount and incentive programs in existence. To understand the full spectrum of homeownership services available, homebuyers would have to attend several types of housing counseling classes. "At least five different types of home buyer education programs were taught throughout the State," said Ginger Buck, a Public Trust Officer with the Housing Program Support Division in the Mississippi State Office. Although staff at HUD were concerned primarily about purchasers, Buck also pointed out that "every lender had to review every type of homeownership course to ensure that certain requirements, such as education on the basics and responsibilities of having a home mortgage, were adequately covered." To address these needs, the HUD Mississippi State Office partnered with the Mississippi Housing Initiative program to create one standard housing training curriculum for the State. The curriculum is now complete, and the first of several train-the-trainer sessions for course instructors attracted over 75 participants to Jackson during late June. "Now that all agencies and lenders recognize all programs, we will help the customer figure out which home buyer assistance program is best for his or her circumstances," said Community Builder Fellow Marilyn Moore-Lemons. Teamwork between Community Builders and Public Trust Officers helped pave the way for HUD’s successful partnership with the Mississippi Housing Initiative. When approached about contributing to the creation of the single housing counseling curriculum, Senior Community Builder Pat Hoban-Moore quickly sought HUD’s approval for the course. Public Trust Officer Ginger Buck then worked closely with Moore-Lemons to finalize curriculum components and with the staff at Atlanta Home Ownership Center to have the course designated a HUD-approved first-time homeownership class. "Duplication of efforts and differing homeownership courses is a challenge throughout the country," said Ginger Buck. HUD’s partnership with the Mississippi Housing Initiative is a model for making the homeownership process easier and more efficient for all parties in a homebuying transaction. "This is an example of how Community Builders and Public Trust Officers can work together to meet Departmental goals and better serve our customers," added Hoban-Moore. For more information about the partnership, contact the Community Builders in the Mississippi State Office of HUD at 601-965-4738. Click here (http://www.hudhcc.org/agencies/agencies.html) for housing counseling classes in your area. |
