Education key to OFC grant

NORWICH – Opportunities for Chenango (OFC) has been working with NeighborWorks for the last ten years, to bring a home ownership program to the community. During that time, they have helped over 80 families get into houses, providing some with grants to help fund their efforts to find affordable housing.

The grants given out by OFC are affordable housing grants. OFC has given out several of the $15,500 grants. Because many of the homes purchased with the help of the grant are in need of repair, $8,000 of the total grant amount must be used for repairs to the home. The other $7,500 can be used toward the down payment and closing costs.

The purpose of the home ownership program is not to provide money, but to educate. “Our main goal is teaching first- time home buyers about the process,” said Patrick O’Rourke of OFC. Potential candidates must first fill out an application to be enrolled in the program, then attend financial education workshops. The First Time Home Owner class is an eight-hour program, which brings mortgage brokers and real estate agents into the class room. “People who have gone through the program are less likely to get into a delinquent situation with their mortgage,” O’Rourke said.