NeighborWorks® News - Neighborworks Western Pennsylvania

NeighborWorks News
®
Summer 2010
Proudly serving Western Pennsylvania for more than 40 years.
Q & A’ S
Q. Is there anything I can do
New State Association Meets With
Senator Bob Casey
to increase the amount of cash
in my paycheck?
A. Yes. Adjusting your withholding allowances can decrease the amount of money
being deducted from your
paycheck. This adjustment will
increase your net income but
may result in a smaller refund
when you file your next tax
return.
Q. What is an Act 91 notice?
A. An Act 91 Notice is mailed
to homeowners who are behind on their mortgage payments. The Notice advises the
recipient to apply for the
Homeowners Emergency Assistance Program (HEMAP).
The HEMAP offers homeowners a lower interest rate
which should enable them to
keep their mortgage payments
current. The program was
initiated to prevent widespread
mortgage foreclosures and
distressed sales of homes.
Homeowners who receive an
Act 91 notice should call
NeighborWorks for foreclosure prevention assistance as
soon as possible.
Representatives from the newly formed NeighborWorks Association of Pennsylvania, met with Senator Bob Casey, in March, to thank him for his efforts to combat foreclosures in Pennsylvania. The Association, which is comprised of the seven
NeighborWorks organizations operating within the Commonwealth, serves as an
advocacy group on matters of affordable housing and financial empowerment.
Prior to the group’s establishment, there was no unified voice for the NeighborWorks organizations in Pennsylvania. In addition to advocating with local, regional,
state and national public and private entities, NeighborWorks Association of Pennsylvania intends to build awareness, educate and motivate targeted audiences on
matters related to housing, counseling and financial education.
Association members in the photo include (from left to right) Ron Miller, NHS of
Greater Berks, Inc.; Jeff Eaton, Arbor Development; Craig Burkley, NWWPA and
Director of the NeighborWorks Association of Pennsylvania; Senator Casey; Colin
Kelley, NWWPA; Jesse Ergott, NHS of Lackawanna County; and Carol Jurchenko,
NHS of Lehigh Valley.
NeighborWorks Western Pennsylvania is proud to serve as the host agency for the
new Association.
NATIONAL
NEIGHBORWORKS WEEK
JUNE 5 – 12, 2010
And … from our clients
“I’m very glad I took the
Pre-Closing class. I am
excited and prepared
for the purchase of my
new home.”
Kathryn Hodges
OUR MISSION
The mission of
NeighborWorks®
Western Pennsylvania is
financial empowerment
that promotes
homeownership and
stable communities.
This goal is realized by
helping individuals and
families strengthen their
financial security through
education programs,
counseling and
affordable financing.
NeighborWorks Western
Pennsylvania staff members and volunteers from
BNY Mellon, spent the
morning of Saturday, June
12, at various project sites
in the Hazelwood community. The clean-up and
planting initiative culminated a series of events
that were part of National
NeighborWorks Week.
Each year, NeighborWorks
America designates the first
week of June as National
NeighborWorks Week.
NeighborWorks Western
Pennsylvania partnered with
the Hazelwood Initiative, the
URA, Connect Greenfield and
the Community Design Center
of Pittsburgh, to focus this
year’s efforts in the Hazelwood and Greenfield
communities. A Community
Resource Fair kicked off the
week-long line up of activities on Saturday, June 5.
Presentations on ways to
avoid Loan Modification
Scams were also delivered
by NWWPA staff members
to various groups in the
Hazelwood Community
throughout the week.
NEIGHBORWORKS PARTNERS WITH SHIM IN
OFFERING ASSISTANCE TO SOUTH HILLS
RESIDENTS
Through a partnership with
SHIM (South Hills Interfaith
Ministries), NeighborWorks is
now able to assist South Hills
residents with free counseling and financial education
services.
SHIM is a non-profit interfaith human service agency
dedicated to serving the
people of the South Hills of
Pittsburgh. Like NeighborWorks, SHIM was estab-
lished in 1968. Their mission is to provide services
to individuals with dignity
and respect. SHIM’s programs include: a food pantry, clothing room and
utility assistance; an early
childhood program for
preschool children; afterschool homework clubs;
and, multi-cultural and
interfaith community education. Tammy Grzelka, a
counselor for NeighborWorks, is onsite each Thursday at SHIM, offering free
budget and credit counseling.
“We are pleased to have
NeighborWorks on board
with us,” said Jim Guffy,
SHIM’s executive director.
“We are all working towards
the same goal - the empowerment of self-reliance.”
From January through May of 2010, there were 1,832 foreclosure filings in Allegheny
County. (Source: PNCIS … Pittsburgh Neighborhood Community Information System.)
WHY CHOOSE NEIGHBORWORKS?
Debt Settlement is a
viable option to help
you negotiate unsecured debt. Unfortunately, some companies take advantage of
people who need debt
reduction assistance;
and, if you choose the
wrong company, you
may find yourself in
worse shape than you
were before.
Beware of companies charging a flat fee based on the
percentage of your debt
amount. These companies
collect their fees—usually up
front, before your debt is
settled and regardless of
how successful they are at
settling your debt. (Source: The
one-on-one counseling,
we teach clients how to
manage debt—without
paying a fee to an entity
to do so.
Carrick Resident Thankful For
Assistance From
NeighborWorks
Kurt Draper, a resident of
Carrick, can continue to enjoy living in his childhood
We empower our clients
home, thanks to Neighborand help them develop a Works Western Pennsylbudget or a savings plan vania. His housing situation
Truth About Debt Settlement.)
is now stabilized and in good
that they can live with
order. Mr. Draper made a
NeighborWorks, on the
comfortably—all free of
personal visit to Neighborother hand, does not settle
charge. Ultimately,
Works to thank all those
delinquent debt. Instead, we
work with clients to educate NeighborWorks helps indi- involved in the process.
A debt settlement comthem on how to settle, satpany should charge
isfy and eliminate debt on
fees based on performance and results. their own. Through our
viduals and families build
confidence in their money
management skills.
A special NeighborWorks thanks to:
Northwest Savings Bank
for our new literature kiosk. And, to
Gateway Health Plan
for the new cabinets in our file retention space.
Being on a tight budget doesn’t
mean you can’t get out and
about from time to time. Log
onto livingpittsburgh.com, a website that features FREE and affordable events in Pittsburgh.
Listings include free outdoor
movies and concerts, free festivals and fairs, lunch and dinner
specials and “Kids Eat Free” restaurants.
Also featured are FREE admission days at local attractions in
Pittsburgh, plus lists of local thrift
and consignment stores!
Living Pittsburgh
NeighborWorks® Western Pennsylvania
710 Fifth Avenue, Suite 1000
Pittsburgh PA 15219
Phone: 412/281-9773
Email: wwwnwwpa.org
In addition to our headquarters at
H A V E Y O U TA L K E D T O R O S S ?
710 Fifth Avenue, Pittsburgh,
NeighborWorks counseling services
their credit or developing
Financial Literacy
Have you talked to
are available at the following locabetter money manageclasses are also being
Ross?
tions:
ment skills.
offered at the credit
Mon Valley Initiative, 303/305 East 8th Avenue,
Homestead, Tuesday’s, from 9 am to 4 pm.
Eastside Neighborhood Employment Center, 5321
Penn Ave., Pittsburgh, Tuesday’s, from 9 am to 3
pm.
The Brashear Association’s Neighborhood Employment Center, 730 Warrington Avenue, Allentown,
Thursday’s, from 9 am to 4 pm.
That’s what members of
Century Heritage Federal
Credit Union are asked
when they walk in the
doors of the Duquesne
and McKeesport
branches.
Ross Martin, a NeighborWorks counselor, is onSHIM (South Hills Interfaith Ministries), 5301 Park
site at the two CHFCU’s
Avenue, Bethel Park, Thursday’s, from 9 am to 3 pm.
locations one day a
Century Heritage Federal Credit Union, 9 South Sec- week— providing one-onone free counseling serond St., Duquesne, Tuesday’s, 9 am to 1 pm.
vices to members who
Hill House Association, 1835 Centre Avenue, Pittsneed assistance in reburgh, Monday through Friday, 9 am to 4 pm.
storing
The relationship with Century Heritage Federal
Credit Union allows
NeighborWorks to reach
an even greater client
base and makes our services convenient to
CHFCU members.
union sites.