Funded by Essent Guaranty, New Center Combines Counseling Expertise with Resources
Philadelphia, PA – Clarifi today announced that Essent Guaranty, Inc. (Essent) has committed to $500,000 in grants over two years to the Clarifi Housing Stability Center (CHSC) program. Essent’s grants are supported by tax credits under the Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development’s Neighborhood Assistance Program. The CHSC is an initiative which seeks to address the foreclosure and eviction crises exacerbated by the economic disruption of the pandemic. This focus on alleviating housing-related financial stress marries Clarifi’s reputation for direct service excellence in one-on-one housing counseling, with a commitment, from local business partners that drive client success.
“Clarifi is eager to expand upon our proven housing counseling process to aid families in need across the city,” said Clarifi Executive Director Steve Gardner. “For so many families, Clarifi’s foreclosure and eviction prevention program is the only thing standing between them and homelessness, and we all know the damage that can inflict on families and their communities.”
“Essent is a strong supporter of fair, equitable and sustainable housing and is honored to partner with Clarifi to support families in our community in need of assistance,” said Mark A. Casale, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Essent Guaranty. “Clarifi has proven themselves to be an effective partner doing valuable work in the city and beyond. This expanded program will enable Clarifi to connect more families to important resources and programs that will make a valuable difference in supporting sustainable housing.”
Goal of Clarifi and the CHSC Program
Since its founding over fifty years ago, Clarifi has become the leading financial capability and housing counseling organization in Philadelphia and the Delaware Valley, helping thousands of low-income families stabilize and improve their housing situations. The Clarifi Housing Stability Center aims to strengthen their eviction and foreclosure prevention programming. This comes at a critical time as COVID-19 related moratoria are lifted and thousands of families exit forbearance without a plan to get back on track. As such, Clarifi is bracing for a surge in eviction and foreclosure filings.
Counselors at the Clarifi Housing Stability Center will use a variation of the Financial Empowerment Center case-management model, connecting participants to services including state and federal assistance programs, utility assistance, food assistance and other social services in addition to Clarifi’s award winning counseling. The program aims to work with clients to explore all possible options to remain in their homes or transition to a more sustainable housing situation. The CHSC will collaborate with community leaders and partners, including nonprofit organizations, government agencies, and for-profit businesses, to form the Housing Stability Advisory Board (HSAB), which Clarifi will leverage to evaluate the needs of the community, gather resources, and conduct outreach.
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About Essent Guaranty:
Founded in 2008, Essent is a private mortgage insurer, approved by Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac and licensed nationwide. Essent offers private mortgage insurance, also known as mortgage guaranty insurance for single-family mortgage loans in the United States, providing private capital to mitigate mortgage credit risk for lenders and investors. This, in turn, allows lenders to make additional mortgage financing available to prospective homeowners. Essent is focused on managing risk and dedicated to serving as a strong and fair counterparty. As a company, Essent brings strong private capital and a commitment to risk management to the mortgage insurance industry. For more information, visit www.essent.us
About Clarifi:
Established in 1966, Clarifi is the leading financial wellness nonprofit in Philadelphia and the Delaware Valley. Through counseling and education, Clarifi helps people at all income levels, but with a special focus on low-to-moderate income families, improve credit, reduce debt, manage student debt, prepare for homeownership, avoid foreclosure and more. Clarifi’s mission is to empower individuals to achieve financial resilience and positively impact their communities. More information at www.clarifi.org