Habitat for Humanity hopes to help struggling families with foreclosure counseling services
By Jennifer Zartman Romano
Mary Tobin, the new community relations coordinator for Habitat for Humanity of Whitley County, wants residents in need locally to know they don't have to travel outside Whitley County to get help.
In fact, a call to Tobin is all you need to do to find real estate foreclosure prevention counseling locally. Recently, a lot of publicity has been given to Indiana Foreclosure Prevention (IFPN) counseling events offered around the state -- but none of them are being offered anywhere close to Whitley County.
Tobin said the last thing many people already struggling to keep their heads above water is to have to plan a lengthy car trip somewhere to find help.
"We are trying to let people know that they don’t have to make a special trip to surrounding counties on a particular day in order to get assistance from IFPN," Tobin said.
"The local Habitat for Humanity of Whitley County office, at 378-A North Line St. in Columbia City, offers foreclosure prevention counseling to families in our area in an effort to avoid foreclosure," Tobin said.
Those seeking assistance can call 1-877-GET-HELP or the local number is 248-4500. When calling the local number, ask to speak with Barb.
"Appointments are preferred so that we can better assist clients, but walk-ins are welcome," Tobin said.
Lieutenant Governor Becky Skillman formed IFPN in November 2007 to help combat Indiana’s high foreclosure rates. The partnership between state government, lenders and community organizations seems to be working with more than 75,000 Hoosiers utilizing the service in an effort to avoid foreclosure.
Foreclosure rates in the United States have jump more than 125 percent recently. According to Skillman's office, largely due to the work of IFPN, the housing crisis has not caused as sharp of an increase in Indiana. Indiana’s rate is currently 4.5% -- which is now slightly lower than the national average 4.57%.
Mary Tobin, the new community relations coordinator for Habitat for Humanity of Whitley County, wants residents in need locally to know they don't have to travel outside Whitley County to get help.
In fact, a call to Tobin is all you need to do to find real estate foreclosure prevention counseling locally. Recently, a lot of publicity has been given to Indiana Foreclosure Prevention (IFPN) counseling events offered around the state -- but none of them are being offered anywhere close to Whitley County.
Tobin said the last thing many people already struggling to keep their heads above water is to have to plan a lengthy car trip somewhere to find help.
"We are trying to let people know that they don’t have to make a special trip to surrounding counties on a particular day in order to get assistance from IFPN," Tobin said.
"The local Habitat for Humanity of Whitley County office, at 378-A North Line St. in Columbia City, offers foreclosure prevention counseling to families in our area in an effort to avoid foreclosure," Tobin said.
Those seeking assistance can call 1-877-GET-HELP or the local number is 248-4500. When calling the local number, ask to speak with Barb.
"Appointments are preferred so that we can better assist clients, but walk-ins are welcome," Tobin said.
Lieutenant Governor Becky Skillman formed IFPN in November 2007 to help combat Indiana’s high foreclosure rates. The partnership between state government, lenders and community organizations seems to be working with more than 75,000 Hoosiers utilizing the service in an effort to avoid foreclosure.
Foreclosure rates in the United States have jump more than 125 percent recently. According to Skillman's office, largely due to the work of IFPN, the housing crisis has not caused as sharp of an increase in Indiana. Indiana’s rate is currently 4.5% -- which is now slightly lower than the national average 4.57%.