(Names changed for privacy; photo not the actual clients.)
“Margie and Frank Wilson,” a Clay County couple in their late 70s, came to JALA for help after becoming delinquent on their mortgage following a forbearance period. Social Security was their only source of income, and they had been struggling to make ends meet for several years. JALA offers housing counseling through a grant from Clay SHIP, or the State Housing Initiative Program, which provides local governments with funds to create housing programs to assist income-eligible residents. The Wilsons met with JALA Housing Counselor Marissa Vetter after their lender had offered two equally untenable options: full reinstatement, which would have required them to pay the total amount past due; or a repayment agreement that would increase their payment significantly. Vetter worked with the Wilsons and their lender, and they were approved for a mortgage modification that lowered their payment from $797 to $558. This permanent lower payment is affordable based on their income, so the Wilsons will be able to remain in their home and make their payments going forward.
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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