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Happy Holidays to everyone from Neighborhood Housing Services! There are many things going on this month. NHS took part in a foreclosure summit with other local NCRC organizations on December 8th. We presented local foreclosure information, and drew attention to some valid areas of concern. So far during 2007 NHS has have performed 19 workouts, 27 small emergency foreclosure prevention loans, and unfortunately foreclosed on two properties. Unlike a bank NHS has many means of workout prior to foreclosure, and we use them all. And in the unfortunate circumstances that families can no longer afford the home that they are in we still offer options to avoid foreclosure, but sometimes with years worth of promises unkept, we too must foreclose. It doesn’t happen very often and I can assure you that it is only after significant attempts to assist, sometimes the results are inevitable. However according to the above statistics we assisted 46 families that will remain homeowners! We take pride in those accomplishments.

We are beginning our homeowner education courses in January, please contact the office if you are interested. The class in January will be about energy efficiency and include the final DREAM homebuyers for some very basic home maintenance tips.

NHS recently completed a HUD housing counseling certification application. This will enable us to work with United Neighbors to fill the gaps and assist more homeowners. This is a significant accomplishment, UNI cannot assist all of the homeowners that contact them, and this will help us all reach more people and neighborhoods. NHS is also working with United Neighbors to establish a program that will assist those that can afford to stay in their homes, but can’t for catastrophic reasons afford to catch up on their delinquency.

Foreclosure is percieved as kind of a nasty thing that happens only to those who don’t pay their bills, but research shows that is not the case. Foreclosures happen on $200,000 properties as well as $20,000 properties, from 3rd St to North of 53rd St. These families are our neighbors, families and friends. Foreclosures affect property values around them in a contagious manner, and to put it simply if you are not worried you very likely should be. Just because the Foreclosure is not happening to you, having one occur in your block will affect your property value.

Enough of the negative news affecting homeowners in Davenport. let’s focus for a minute on the positive affects of 2007.

1. Davenport now has a 100 homes program to assist over income individuals to move into economically distressed neighborhoods. I use the term economically distressed loosely because as well as “economically distressed”, these are the neighborhoods with immense historical value. Imagine for a minute buying a four bedroom home, with a turret or a sit in bay window, 2 bathrooms and a parlor for $50,000, believe it or not it can be done rather easily ask anyone who chooses to live South of Locust.

1. NHS has assisted more than 2600 families in the last 26 years to become or remain homeowners.
2. NHS is well under way with our 5th impact project in the area of Grand and Kirkwood, we are and have provided exterior grants, and are rehabbing properties for resale.
3. We are holding post purchase education classes every month with topics such as foreclosure prevention, home maintenance, basic budgeting, energy efficiency, and insurance evaluation.
4. NHS has taken stock of the neighborhoods that we serve, we are no longer trying to reach the masses and have returned to a grassroots neighborhood involved method of determining our goals, and outcomes. The truth of the matter is we work for you, and we have heard you and responded by returning to what we do best(not being commercial landlords, but…), serving neighborhoods, families, and people.
5. NHS will begin offering HUD housing counseling programs in 2008. United Neighbors had 900+ clients request these services in the 2006 federal calendar year (October 2006 ‐ September 2007) We praise them for the impacts they have made in our neighborhoods, and will only complement what they do, but federal statistics show that a growing amount of families will require assistance, working together NHS and UNI might be able to meet the demand, and help sustain homeownership.

That is a little of what NHS has done this year to assist in stabilizing our neighborhoods, we still need your help, Someone once said that we were the best kept secret in town, talk to your neighbors, your friends, your family, tell them to call NHS. As we begin 2008 lets gather up our resources and work together to continue making positive impacts in our neighborhoods.

Reminder: NHS offices will be closed from December 24th and will reopen January 2nd. Payments may be mailed or deposited in the payment slot at the office. We look forward to working with you all in 2008.

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

The Staff of Neighborhood Housing Services of Davenport, Inc.

Well as the title indicates, it is the week of Thanksgiving.  Hopefully you all will be surrounded by loved ones and warm with your tummys full of turkey on Thursday.  We will be closed on Thursday and Friday to allow our staff to celebrate with their loved ones as well.

It also means another year has come and is almost gone, NHS has just entered into our 26th year of providing services in this community.  We have a lot to be thankful for as well, all of our clients over the years, and the smiles and heartfelt thanks that we recieve on closing day when NHS has helped another deserving family acquire a home of their own.  You are the ones that make our organization thrive, coming in each month to make your payment which we reinvest back into your neighborhood.   Well anyway, you all deserve our thanks.

A couple of announcements and I will let you get on with the end of week celebrating…

• Don’t forget our annual meeting on November 27th at 6:00.  It’s our once a year open house with the Board and Staff.  There will be refreshments.
• We are still looking for community members for some committees, please contact the office if you are interested.
• We hope to be completing the project at 727 Kirkwood before the end of the month.
• We will be starting our postpurchase classes in January, with the first to likely be in regard to increasing energy efficiency in your home.  There are many basic things you can do to increase your warmth, and decrease the bills - stay tuned. 

Happy Thanksgiving from the Staff and Board of Neighborhood Housing Services!

This is Brook from NHS, we recently published our new website to the internet and a blog was an option.  I thought I would give it a try and see if there was interest among others for a forum specifically regarding neighborhood revitilization in Davenport. 

I hope this a an additional way NHS can communicate with our neighbors about projects, ideas, etc.

Let us know what you think.

 

We are really busy right now trying to finish up some construction projects before the inevitable winter comes.  Although our crews continue work throughout the winter, there are many things that need to be done for us to be ready.

Remember to vote on Tuesday!

We are also gathering individuals for several committees including Marketing, Program Services, and an advisory group for the Impact Area surrounding Kirkwood and Grand.  Please feel free to contact the office if you have interest in volunteering some time!

Thanks to all of our neighbors for their support and Have a Great Week!