financial services

Why We Do It

We all want a place to call home. A place to belong and be happy where our families can grow, play, and dream. Strong communities begin with strong families. One of the keys that touch all of these is homeownership. People feel tied and proud of their neighborhood when they have ownership in it. Brighton Center helps families give wings to their hopes through our Financial Services programs. We work every day teaching individuals and families to live better within their means through basic personal finance principles. We offer classes that assist journey of owning their own home, budgeting, saving, building credit and credit repair, and proper cash management.

What We Do

Financial Services offers classes and one-on-one counseling in financial education, homeownership, and foreclosure prevention.

FINANCIAL EDUCATION

2 Cents about Finances
2 Cents about Finances is a four-hour class, over two nights, covering budgeting, banking, how credit works, credit repair, and saving and investing. Additional topics include: ID theft protection, various scams and predatory lending practices, as well as warning signs on how to report predatory lenders.

Budget and Credit Counseling
Budget and Credit Counseling is a one-on-one session to develop a personal budget, money management techniques, repair/establish credit, and help establishing checking or savings accounts.

HOMEOWNERSHIP

Yes You Can
Yes You Can is a six-hour class that covers each step of the home buying process – from budgeting to closing - including shopping for a home, sales contracts, loan applications, and basic home maintenance tips.

Home Ownership Counseling
This is a one-on-one counseling session to review specific needs and develop an action plan outlining the steps necessary to reach their goal of homeownership. A credit evaluation is performed and credit repair guidance is offered.

Post Purchase
Post Purchase offers follow-up counseling and is provided to homebuyers on a regular basis to assist them with any issues that may arise such as budget problems and maintenance concerns. This service is free and open to the public.

FORECLOSURE PREVENTION

Pathways (Default and Foreclosure Counseling)
Pathways offers assistance in stopping foreclosures by informing individuals of their options, developing a crisis budget and start saving, and communicating and sending information to the lender.

GENERAL SERVICES

Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA)
VITA is a free tax assistance site offered to hard working individuals. Every Saturday from the end of January to the middle of April individuals can have their taxes done for free, with the target population those who are eligible for the Earned Income Tax Credit. This service is led by
Chase College of Law in partnership with Brighton Center for close to 20 years. Locations are in Campbell and Boone Counties.

Individual Development Account (IDA)
IDAs allow families to increase assets through providing matching funds toward homeownership, post-secondary education, rehab of an owner occupied home, and vehicle purchase. A 1:1 match is provided, with a total savings of $4,000.

Reverse Mortgage Counseling
Reverse Mortgage Counseling is for individuals (age 62 older who own their home) are guided through the process of a Home Equity Conversion Mortgage including understanding the program, legal rights, budgets, and potential pitfalls.

What We've Done

75% increased their knowledge of financial concepts (budget, savings, and credit repair). We helped 228 families save their homes from foreclosure while 10 families had a favorable outcome (short sale or deed in lieu). Our VITA sites served 1,127 families and brought back $1,579,137 to hard working families in our community.