Tenants To Homeowners

Announcements

Additional information for TTH Homeowners and Tenants:

Dear LCHT Homeowners,

As you know Douglas County Health Officer Dr. Thomas Marcellino has issued a “Stay at Home” order as the Douglas County community continues with efforts to slow the spread of COVID-19. Grocery stores, pharmacies, gas stations and healthcare facilities will remain open, as residents are ordered to remain home except for essential needs.

In order to comply with this “Stay at Home” order Tenants to Homeowners office will continue to be closed with all staff working from home. We will continue to monitor the ever-changing details as it relates to you as a TTH homeowner.

Reminder:
The $55 in lease fees and maintenance savings account contributions have been waived for April and we will re-evaluate month to month.* LCHT owners are able to use maintenance accounts to help pay for a portion of mortgage payments as a last resort. Federal help is also being worked out and we will continue to inform homeowners of resources as they come online. 
*1204 Delaware HOA fees will still be required as these fees pay for needed services. 

Mitigating Homeownership-Related Financial Impacts of COVID-19

Last Wednesday (3/18),  HUD announced that it would suspend foreclosures and evictions for mortgages insured by the Federal Housing Administration for 60 days (see Mortgagee Letter 2020-04). Similarly, the Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) directed Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac to suspend foreclosures and evictions for at least 60 days due to the coronavirus national emergency. The foreclosure and eviction suspension applies to homeowners with an Enterprise-backed single-family mortgage.

And earlier this month, FHFA announced that Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac would provide payment forbearance to borrowers impacted by the coronavirus. Forbearance allows for a mortgage payment to be suspended for up to 12 months due to hardship caused by the coronavirus. Many banks are taking action to help borrowers impacted by the pandemic.

• Please contact your lender if you are at risk of falling behind on your mortgages so that loss mitigation strategies can be implemented quickly.
• The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau guidance on how to protect oneself from the financial impacts of the coronavirus.
• While far greater aid is needed, more help is on the way through an $8 billion federal emergency spending package.
• Please follow the guidance from the Center for Disease Control to protect yourself, loved ones, and community members.

Remember, reach out to your lender and Rebecca rbufordefird@yahoo.com or 785-760-2058 if you are having any trouble paying your mortgage. Federal resources and payment plans will be available but you must reach out for that information. Finally, Housing and Credit Counseling is our local mortgage counseling organization and they can be reached at 1-800-383-0217.

Unemployment Information:

“Unemployment insurance benefits may be available to individuals who are involuntarily unemployed as a result of COVID-19. The amount of the benefit will vary based upon the amount of money that the individual has previously earned. At this time, individuals can receive up to a maximum of 16 weeks of benefits.

For more information click on this link for COVID-19 Response Resources

The Kansas Department of Labor recognizes the impact of COVID-19 on employers and workers alike.

8 Tips for Working from Home

1. Maintain Regular Hours

2. Create a Morning Routine

3. Set Ground Rules With the People in Your Space

4. Schedule Breaks

5. Take Breaks in Their Entirety

6. Don’t Hesitate to Ask for What You Need

7. Keep a Dedicated Office Space

8. Stay Positive

Now is a great time to get things done on your Spring To Do List:
•  Roof and Foundation: Inspect roof surface flashing, eaves, and soffits. Perform a thorough cleaning. Check flashing’s around all surface projections and sidewalls. Check foundation walls, floors, concrete, and masonry for cracking. heaving, or deterioration.

•  Windows and Doors: Clean screening and check for holes. If holes are bigger than a quarter, that is plenty of room for bugs to climb in. Patch holes or replace the screen. Save bad screen to patch holes next year. Tighten or repair any loose or damaged frames and repaint. Tighten and lubricate door hinges a

•  Gutters and Downspouts: Clean out leaves and debris from gutters and downspouts. Run a hose on the roof and check for proper drainage. If leaks exist, dry the area and use caulking or epoxy to seal the leak.

•  Siding and Exterior Caulking: Clean siding with a pressure washer to keep mold from growing. Check all wood surfaces for weathering and paint failure. Inspect caulking and replace if deteriorating. Scrape out all of the eroding caulk and re-caulk needed areas.

nd closer. Fill cracks, caulk, edges, repaint or replace if necessary.

•  Heating and Air: Change the air filter in the furnace. Clean air conditioner unit, check belt tension and adjust if needed. Lubricate blower motor on the heat pump.

•  Deck and Porches: Check all decks, patios, porches, stairs, and railings for loose members and deterioration. Open decks and wood fences need to be treated every 4-6 years, depending on how much exposure they get to sun and rain.

•  Landscape and Lawn Equipment: Service all lawn equipment by properly disposing of old gasoline and oil. Check and/or replace spark plugs and blades. Check hoses for leaks, cut back and trim all vegetation and overgrown bushes from structures.

TTH Staff

Support TTH through Amazon Smile

Amazon will donate 5% of your entire purchase price to Tenants to Homeowners when you make TTH your Amazon Smile beneficiary.

American Trucks “Positive Payload” program

Is helping TTH to “keep trucking” with financial support towards the purchase of a newer, more efficient work truck in 2020!

Any non-profit utilizing American-made trucks is eligible for funding through American Trucks. You can take advantage and partner with them today at:

https://www.americantrucks.com/positive-payload.html

Density Bonus FAQ’s:

1. What is this Affordable Housing Density Bonus I’ve been hearing so much about?
The Density Bonus is Lawrence’s first city policy specifically supporting affordable
housing. With land and home prices increasing, the proposed bonus would allow affordable
housing developers to build 2 small homes on a single lot with the stipulation that the homes
remain permanently affordable and that each unit meet all parking, setback, and zoning
requirements.

2. Will the Density bonus cause water runoff or drainage issues?
Lawrence City Code restricts the % of impervious surface per lot. In many cases, two small homes
will allow more green space than 1 large home.

3. Why not just build more affordable housing on the edge of town instead of in my
neighborhood?
Affordable Housing is about more than housing. It’s about access to food, services, multi-modal
transportation, and neighborhood culture. TTH is currently developing equitable ownership
opportunities in all Lawrence neighborhoods.

4. Will permanently affordable housing in my neighborhood decrease the value of my home?
Housing in Trust is high-quality, energy efficient housing designed by local architects and
built by local Law­rence contractors. New, infill housing is a benefit to all neighborhoods.
More directly, housing in trust is NOT compared to unrestricted housing when creating county
tax valuations. Housing in Trust has NO affect on the value of neighboring properties.

5. How will the City insure that the Density Bonus is only for PERMANENTLY AFFORDABLE
HOUSING?
The text amendment allows use of the Bonus only to organizations who permanently steward
homes with affordability restrictions. The City will require a certification process to
insure eligibility for purchasers and developers.

A huge shout out to the United Way of Douglas County for supporting Tenants to Homeowners and Affordable Housing. Click here for more information.