Free Foreclosure Prevention HOME Clinics at Neighborhood Library Branches

About the Program

Category: Libraries (Best in Category)

Year: 2010

The San Diego County Library (SDCL) offers Free Foreclosure Prevention HOME Clinics in partnership with the Housing Opportunities Collaborative (HOC). By partnering with the HOC, SDCL accomplishes its goal to provide housing support to the community. San Diego County, like other areas of the US, has been suffering from high foreclosure and unemployment rates as well as an economic crisis associated with state budget short falls. With housing particularly, citizens needed a trusted source of information and assistance. While the community did not expect to find housing support at the library, they did trust its good name. To begin meeting needs related to housing, SDCL initiated a partnership with HOC in 2008 to provide Home Owner Mobile Education clinics (HOME). HOME clinics provide participants with free support in a trusted environment at the public library. Bankruptcy and credit education sessions provide basic information needed to make logical decisions responding to the situation, while action-based support from skilled professionals added to the clinics’ educational environment as well. Participants receive free support from fully vetted lawyers, credit counselors and mortgage counselors at the clinic and an action plan to help them navigate these tough times.