There's No Place Like Home

“THERE IS NO PLACE LIKE HOME!” City of Manassas 2011 Housing Event is Sat., October 15, 10 am - 4 pm at Osbourn High School, 9005 Tudor Lane, Manassas.

Talk directly to a Certified Housing Counselor - representatives from Bank of America, Wells Fargo, Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac will be ready to meet with you about your mortgage concerns, as well as certified housing counselors who work in the Manassas area. The Children’s Activities Center, available to all who attend, will offer parents an opportunity to speak with Housing Counselors while their children are actively carving pumpkins (while supplies last ) and creating artistic designs.  Tina Murray, Project Infusion with the help of Osbourn High School Key Club will be available to work with children who attend.

 Six one-hour interactive presentations and one panel discussion include:

 10 am – Recognizing Mortgage Scams with Brenda Hicks, Director, Center for Housing Education, Housing Opportunities Made Equal of Virginia

 11 am – Independence Empowerment Center Panel Discussion with:

• Traci DeGroat, Executive Director, Habitat for Humanity of PWC, Manassas and Manassas Park
• Mally Dryden-Mason, Consumer Education Coordinator & Fair Housing Training Specialist, Department of Professional and Occupational Regulation
• Jane M. King, Chairman of the Alexandria, Virginia Commission on Aging and the National Consumers League in Washington, DC
• Greg Sieb, Owner, Granting-You-Access, LLC

 11 am – Foreclosure Prevention Workshop with Ronald Clarkson, Program Director, Housing Counseling Services, Inc., covering homeowner options when addressing mortgage delinquency, including Refinancing, Forbearance Agreements, Repayment Plans, Reverse Mortgages, Mortgage Modifications, Deed-In-Lieu of Foreclosure, Deed for Lease, Sale of the Home, Short Sale and the important role of Home Maintenance.  The presentation will also include warnings about foreclosure rescue scams and housing discrimination.

 12 noon – Making Your Home Accessible as You Age and Adapting Existing Homes to Meet Needs of All Ages with Ron Knecht, Universal Design Homeowner and Anthony Palladino, Home Designer at Golden Rule Builders, Inc.

 1 pm – Legal Aspects of Foreclosure with James Scruggs, Attorney, Legal Services of Northern Virginia.

 2 pm – What Families Need to Know with Renee Bolton, Intervention Specialist, Manassas City Public Schools.  Parents may learn about their rights under the McKinney Vento Homeless Education Act of 2001. This important Act guarantees access to a free public education for children and youth who are experiencing homelessness.

 3 pm – Your Home is Part of Our Livable Community with Raymond M. Beverage, Chairman & Secretary, Prince William Area Commission on Aging.  Seniors and disabled residents may learn ways to make their home more comfortable to their changing lifestyle. Learn about the Living Tax Credit and other programs that may help you as you age.

 For more information, contact Mickey Rhoades, Housing Advocate, City of Manassas, Virginia at 703-257-8297 or mrhoades@ci.manassas.va.us.