Homeowners, tenants welcome at clinic

Homeowners having problems paying their mortage as well as tenants interested in buying a home are invited to the HOME Clinic in Ramona from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday, Jan. 30.

Co-sponsored by San Diego County Library, the Legal Aid Society of San Diego Pro Bono Program and the Housing Opportunities Collaborative (HOC), the clinic will be held in Ramona Community Center at 434 Aqua Lane.

HOC is a coalition of nonprofit organizations and agencies in the San Diego region.

Admission to the clinic is free, but registration is required.

The clinic will provide information about resources and services pertinent to homeowners having difficulties in making monthly mortgage payments and to tenants interested in becoming a homeowner. It will pool attorneys, real estate and mortgage industry professionals, housing counseling agencies, fair housing agencies, and other public agencies to give you a one-stop shop of counseling resources.

Participants will be connected to resources, legal assistance, consumer protection assistance, credit counseling, fair housing counseling and other agencies. Attorneys who have landlord/tenant, real estate, lending and mortgage industry experience, as well as bankruptcy and family law attorneys will provide services.

Those attending will also consult with staff members of HUD-approved housing counseling and credit counseling agencies. They will get a review of their lease/rental agreement, mortgage/lending/escrow documents and will be referred to law enforcement or to attorneys who may give resolution to their problems.

Educational sessions on credit management, tenant rights, mortgage loans, bankruptcy and consumer protection will also be provided. Family members are welcome.

To register, e-mail HOMEClinic@housingcollaborative.org, or call 619-283-2200 or 800-HOC-0503 to be scheduled in a session. There are limited individual sessions with attorneys.

Homeowners who need immediate assistance may call 888-995-HOPE.