“Raymond,” who has a disability, was working a part-time job in addition to his full-time job in order to pay off the $6,000 he owed his homeowner’s association, which had initiated a foreclosure for the past due assessments. He was also behind on his mortgage. He and his two adult children, ages 18 and 20, share the family home, and he was in risk of losing it. Raymond turned to JALA, which offers housing counseling in Clay County through a SHIP grant. SHIP, or the State Housing Initiative Program, provides local governments with funds to create housing programs to assist income-eligible residents. Raymond was able to pay his HOA debt with his earnings from the part-time job, while JALA Housing Counselor Marissa Vetter assisted him with the mortgage delinquency. She worked with his lender and got him approved for a mortgage modification. With lower monthly payments, he is now back on track with his mortgage payments and HOA dues and can continue to provide a stable home for himself and his young adult children.
About Jacksonville Area Legal Aid
Jacksonville Area Legal Aid is a nonprofit law firm focused on delivering economic, social, and housing justice to low-income and at-risk individuals and families on the First Coast.
If you are an attorney wanting to volunteer with probate and heirs property issues, contact JALA Pro Bono Director Aaron Irving, at (904) 356-8371, Ext. 363, or Aaron.Irving@jaxlegalaid.org.
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