Monday, July 25, 2011

Summit For Kids



Attention families!  Mark your calendars and plan to attend the Summit for Kids family expo at the John S. Knight Center in Akron on Saturday, August 20, 2011, from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. 

You and your children will enjoy fun activities, free back-to-school items and other giveaways, special programs, and much more. 

Admission is free.

For more information on Summit for Kids, please visit http://www.summitforkids.net/.


Tuesday, July 19, 2011

Home Affordable Modification Program

Concerned about foreclosure?  The Home Affordable Modification Program (HAMP) is designed to help as many as 3 to 4 million financially struggling homeowners avoid foreclosure by modifying loans to a level that is affordable for borrowers now and sustainable over the long term.  Borrower eligibility is based on meeting specific criteria including:

1) borrower is delinquent on their mortgage or faces imminent risk of default
2) property is occupied as borrower's primary residence
3) mortgage was originated on or before Jan. 1, 2009 and unpaid principal balance must be no greater than $729,750 for one-unit properties.

After determining a borrower's eligibility, a servicer will take a series of steps to adjust the monthly mortgage payment to 31% of a borrower's total pretax monthly income:
•First, reduce the interest rate to as low as 2%,
•Next, if necessary, extend the loan term to 40 years,
•Finally, if necessary, forbear (defer) a portion of the principal until the loan is paid off and waive interest on the deferred amount.

Servicers may elect to forgive principal under HAMP on a stand-alone basis or before any modification step in order to achieve the target monthly mortgage payment.

For more information, contact:
Home Affordable Modification Program Solution Center
Phone (866) 939-4469
Email  support@hmpadmin.com

Source:  Fannie Mae

Tuesday, July 12, 2011

Resources for Senior Citizens

Did you know that your local office of the Area Agency on Aging can be a wealth of information and help? The AAOA offers a number of helpful programs, including in-home care, home delivered meals, medical transportation and equipment and other services for qualified individuals, help with Medicare applications, caregiver support services, and a nursing home ombudsman who helps to protect resident rights and resolve issues with long term care facilities. They also offer information by telephone. In Summit County, call 1-800-421-7277.

Elder law attorneys are legal professionals who specialize in services for seniors. They can provide valuable advice and direction with regard to estate planning, advance directives, wills, trusts, and more. We have several excellent elder law attorneys practicing locally.  If your income is limited and consulting a lawyer is not in your budget, try the ProSeniors Legal Hotline at 800-488-6070. The Legal Hotline provides free legal information, advice, and referral for residents of Ohio age 60 and over regardless of income, resources, or location.

Don’t forget to ask your utility companies if you qualify for any senior utility discounts. For instance, Summit County Department of Environmental Services (D.O.E.S.) offers discounted sewer service to customers age 65 and over who meet certain income criteria.

Have a question about your Medicare coverage or other senior health insurance? The Ohio Senior Health Insurance Information Program (OSHIIP) offers a free hotline staffed by people with extensive knowledge about Medicare (all types) and many other programs. This summer, I will be attending a 20-hour training in order to become a certified OSHIIP volunteer counselor. Until then, call their hotline at 1-800-686-1578.

Questions about long term care? Try the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ National Clearinghouse for Long-Term Care Information at http://www.longtermcare.gov/.

Infoline of Summit County has a special Senior Infoline for residents 60 and over. Call 330-374-0333. You can also search the database of local resources online at http://www.211summit.org/ .

For wonderful publications to print, view online, or order at no cost, visit the National Institutes of Aging and Health on the web at: http://health.nih.gov/category/SeniorsHealth and http://www.nia.nih.gov/ .

As always, individuals who live, work, or worship in Hudson are also welcome to make an appointment with me for a free consultation regarding services for seniors, help with assessing eligibility and applying for benefits, and more.

Friday, July 1, 2011

Electric Partnership Program

Are you a resident of Summit or Stark County who could use some help with your electric expenses, or even a free, new, energy-efficient refrigerator?  East Akron Neighborhood Development Center’s Electric Partnership Program (EPP) improves efficiency in households by:

• Performing FREE in-home energy audits
• Installing FREE compact fluorescent light bulbs
• Installing FREE new, energy star refrigerators and freezers
• Providing FREE consumer education, and more!

To be eligible, applicants must meet the following requirements:
• Be a First Energy/Ohio Edison or American Electric Power customer with 12 months of usage
• Electric bill and application in the name of someone living IN the home
• Electric usage of at least 5000 Killowatt hours of electricity during the last 12 months minus heat and A/C
• Either be on PIPP or meet the Electric Partnership Program income guidelines

Number of Persons     Annual Income Guidelines

              1                               $16,335

              2                               $22,065

              3                               $33,525

              4                               $39,255

              5                               $44,985

Each additional person add:     $5,730

For an application, click here.
For landlord authorization form, click here.

For more information about the program, click here, or call (330) 773-2095 or 1-866-604-6844 (toll free).

Source:  East Akron Neighborhood Development Corp.