A cooperative effort of Athens County organizations has recently begun work on a program that will help Athens residents save their livelihoods in the rough economic climate.
Athens County Clerk of Courts Ann Trout is the chair of the Save Our Homes Task Force, which gives homeowners and tenants in Athens County a chance to keep their homes despite foreclosure.
This task force is-
Trout added.
There is pending legislature in the Ohio Congress and United States Congress that would protect tenants whose landlords are having their property foreclosed.
It would allow the tenants to remain at the residence until their contracts are completed according to House Bills 295 and 440.
Our job is to get this information out to the public said Trout.
One part of the task force's program is a payment program through the Athens County Treasurer Javon Cooper's office. It allows people to slowly pay their debts.
The option of using the payment plan has always been there, said Cooper.
When people fall behind in their taxes they should contact the treasurer's office earlier and start working out a plan so after three years
they aren't in as much financial trouble
added Cooper.
Another part to this program is the formation of an informational call center within the next six months.
The task force is also working with United Appeal for Athens County, an affiliate of the United Way, a charitable organization, to set up the a call center to include Athens, Muskingum, Morgan and Perry counties.
Pam Harvey, the Director of the United Appeal for Athens County, said the call center will be somewhere for people to call for information about the program.
Southeastern Ohio Legal Services (SEOLS) is also contributing to this effort.
The task force is expected to have at least nine to 10 pro bono attorneys to assist the project.
-
attorneys can sign up on their own to represent that client for free
said Peggy Lee of SEOLS.
Trout also added that the Task Force is hoping to get a radio-spot as well as add a banker and real estate agent to complete their staff.
Residents can go to www.savethedream.ohio.gov for more information.
This is a great program and I hope that our stats are greatly decreased next year. This program has been needed here in Athens for many years
said Trout.
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