By Al Benson
“We’re in a housing crisis. Affordable housing solutions can’t keep up with the need.”
That was the word from Rick Guzman, executive director of The Neighbor Project, neighborproject.us, an Aurora-based, nonprofit housing advocacy organization when the Aurora Lions Club hosted Guzman as guest speaker at its membership meeting at Riverview Diner in Montgomery October 1.
“Our mission,” Guzman said, “focuses on grassroots community development, building financial stability and helping families create generational wealth for homeownership. Challenges facing prospective homeowners include limited housing supply, rising property values and higher interest rates. Households spending more than 30% of their income on housing are generally considered cost-burdened and many renters today are spending more than 50% of their income on housing.”
According to Guzman, “The Project is a HUD-certified housing counseling agency dedicated to helping low-to-moderate-income families reduce debt, build credit, save and ultimately buy their first homes. Our programs help working families in building wealth—positioning them to lead the revitalization of their own neighborhoods. Clients do the work to improve their own financial situations, but that work is amplified through innovative programs that help them reach their goals faster than they could on their own.”
Programs and services discussed include:
•Foreclosure prevention: Helping existing homeowners work with lenders and avoid foreclosure.
•Home repair assistance: Helping homeowners with repair projects ranging from approximately $5,000 to $50,000.
•First-time homebuyer assistance: Providing homebuyer education and down payment assistance.
•Financial empowerment: Helping families become banked, improve credit, reduce debt, and increase savings.
•Breakthrough rental program: Offering 61 units of affordable housing, with a goal of helping at least 50% of participating tenants save toward future homeownership.
He invited the Lions to attend The Neighbor Project and Partners second annual community networking breakfast fundraiser from 8 p.m. to 10:15 a.m. Thursday, Nov. 5, at Waubonsee Community College’s downtown campus, 18 S. River St. in Aurora. Admission is $30. The event will include breakfast, Project updates and raffle draws.