TELAMON-TRC TO EXPAND HOUSING COUNSELING SERVICES WITH NEW AWARD
Raleigh, N.C., October 19, 2018 — Telamon – Transition Resources Corporation (Telamon-TRC), whose mission is to provide educational services that lead to better jobs, better lives, and better communities, is pleased to announce it was awarded a $933,037 housing counseling grant by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). These funds provide the foundation for Telamon-TRC’s Housing & Financial Empowerment programs, assisting families and individuals in building financial security through education and affordable, revitalized and safe housing options.
Telamon-TRC will utilize funding from this grant to expand services in rural areas largely underserved by other housing counseling organizations, such as in upstate South Carolina, Southern Georgia, and rural Michigan. The agency also anticipates increasing its network size to include new agencies with a focus in homeownership counseling and education.
HUD awarded $47 million in housing counseling grants across the country to state housing finance agencies, national and regional intermediaries, and local housing counseling agencies. The aim of these grants is to help approximately 1 million households find housing, make more informed housing choices, or keep their current homes. This highly competitive grant represents the largest allocation of HUD funding Telamon-TRC has received in its 53-year history, and the 15thlargest award out of the 195 made by HUD.
According to Brandon Bell, Telamon-TRC’s Housing Director in North Carolina, “Funds from this HUD grant, will allow us to expand our outreach to assist individuals and families with developing positive spending habits, increasing credit scores, and decreasing debt loads, all to help secure affordable housing and achieve their goals.”
Empowerment workshops and personalized financial and housing counseling services are currently offered at 14 Telamon locations in nine states: Delaware, Georgia, Indiana, Maryland, Michigan, North Carolina, South Carolina, Virginia, and West Virginia. In 2017, more than 7,500 individuals worked toward better financial stability by attending a Telamon workshop or by meeting with a trained housing and financial counselor. As one of HUD’s national intermediaries, Telamon-TRC’s network of affiliates and sub-grantees provided housing counseling and education services to more than 1,600 individuals and families.
Telamon-TRC’s Housing & Financial Empowerment program helps first-time home buyers through its My First Home program, which provides education, coaching, and access to loan products to help make homeownership a reality for low- to moderate-income families. For homeowners finding it difficult to make mortgage payments on time, Telamon-TRC’s certified loss mitigation advisors help secure workout options that keep the dream of homeownership intact. For senior citizens considering a reverse mortgage, Telamon-TRC reviews the intricacies of these loan products from an unbiased, non-interest point of view and advises on the best solutions for the customer.
To help empower individuals and impact your local community, visit the Telamon-TRC website to learn more about opportunities to donate, partner or volunteer. Agencies interested in becoming part of Telamon’s network of housing counseling organizations can find out more information by calling 1-866-844-8556.
