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Washington Homeownership Resource Center (WHRC) is a statewide non-profit organization with a mission to educate and empower current and future homeowners in Washington state. WHRC’s Homeownership Hotline helps homebuyers and homeowners connect to programs and resources related to buying a home, keeping the home safe and accessible, and preventing foreclosure.
Executive Director, Denise Rodriguez says, “Each month, the Hotline gets about 500 calls in multiple languages.” The callers have a range of needs including foreclosure prevention. Ms. Rodriguez continues, “COVID is hitting communities of color particularly hard. For several years now, we’ve been seeing homeowners in Seattle’s Central District and Sound End – especially elders – struggling with rising property taxes. We are worried that COVID may increase displacement of our elders from the communities they know and love and exacerbate gentrification. We are standing by to help prevent that in any way we can.”
The Homeownership Hotline serves as a vital entry point to homeownership stability resources that are funded and located throughout the state by:
- Directing prospective homeowners to free first-time homebuyer education classes;
- Connecting homebuyers to pre-purchase counseling and homebuyer assistance programs;
- Helping homeowners prevent property tax foreclosure and connect to property tax assistance programs;
- Helping homeowners understand the foreclosure timeline and their rights;
- Empowering homeowners with resources to help them with foreclosure issues; and
- Helping homeowners find assistance to repair or modify their homes.
A homeowner who previously resolved her foreclosure issues with support from WHRC said, “It feels a million times better knowing where we will be living, that we don’t have to move, and I can actually afford to live here. My life is no longer on hold, and we have been able to make plans for the first time in ages. There is no more black cloud of uncertainty hanging over my head always, waiting for the bank to dictate so much of my life.”
If you’re interested in connecting with the Washington Homeownership Resource Center, please call their toll-free Homeownership Hotline during business hours (Monday to Friday 8:30am – 4:30pm) at 877.894.4663
The Washington Homeownership Resource Center has access to interpreters who speak over 200 languages. If you need an interpreter, the operators will connect you with a third-party interpreter. You will need to be able to tell them in English what language you need for interpretation. Please wait on the line while they get an interpreter to help.
