"I'm Not Ready for the Road to Housing Recovery!"

Does even the thought of beginning the road to housing recovery leave you overwhelmed and confused? If so, you are certainly not alone. Often the best way to get going is to get the answers to a few fundamental questions first. You'll find below a list of questions and answers that just might remove a few of the initial roadblocks. And if you are still not sure you’re ready, this section of the guidebook is full of resources you can tap in preparing for your journey.

Q. I lost my copy of my deed, lease, insurance and other important documents how do I replace them?

A. Go to www.governor.ny.gov/resources/storm#lostdocument, for help in New York or call the New Jersey Disaster Legal Services hotline at 888541-1900 for some excellent advice on how to replace lost documents.

Call your insurance company to get a copy of your insurance policy. If you're not sure how to contact your company, go to the Resource Guides for contact information for your state's department of insurance.

Q. I still owe money on a house that got damaged or destroyed by the storm. I can't afford that payment now on top of my current rent. What do I do?

A. First of all, remember that even if your home has suffered damage or perhaps no longer exists, your property still has value.

If you walk away from your home or property and you had a mortgage payment before the storm, you are still responsible for making those payments after the storm. If you abandon your property or stop making your payments, foreclosure may occur. Foreclosure is the legal process your lender can use to take back your home and try to recover what you owe. If this happens, you must move out and the lender will sell your home. If the property is worth less than the amount you owe, you will have to pay the lender the difference.

If you do not pay back what you owe, the lender may seek a judgment against you in court. Both foreclosures and judgments will show up on your credit report, and this will make it harder for you to borrow money or rent an apartment in the future. Avoid property abandonment or foreclosure if at all possible!

What should you do?

• Do not ignore letters from your lender! If you are having problems making your payments, call or write to your lender right away. Explain your situation. Be prepared to provide them with financial information, such as your monthly income and expenses. They will need this information to work out a plan with you.
• If at all possible, stay in your home for now this may be important in qualifying for assistance.
• Contact a HUD-approved housing counseling agency for free help in thinking through your options. To search for an agency near you visit www.hud.gov/offices/ hsg/sfh/hcc/hcs.cfm. In addition, the first page of each state Resource Guide in Route 4 has guidance information on how to find the housing counseling agency nearest you.
• Look for a counseling agency that meets the requirements of The National Industry Standards for Homeownership Education and Counseling, which are a set of guidelines for quality homeownership and counseling services. Counseling agencies that adopt these Standards can be trusted to provide consistent, high quality advice. For more information on the industry standards visit the website at www.homeownershipstandards.org.
• Remember that signing over the deed to someone else does not automatically relieve you of your loan obligation; you must work this out with the bank as well.
• Watch out for scams. Solutions that sound too simple or too good to be true usually are. If you're selling your home without professional guidance, beware of buyers who try to rush you through the process and offer you far less than the property is worth. Contact a local real estate professional to learn more about what similar properties in your are are selling for.

Act now! Delaying can't help. If you abandon your home, you will lose your home and your good credit rating.

Q. I want to move back into the apartment I was renting, but I don't have a copy of my lease and the landlord says he's rented it to someone else. What can I do?

A. You will need to get legal advice to help sort this out. Look at the contacts under legal resources in the Resource Guide for your state, to find out about low-cost or free legal assistance.

Q.I had emergency rental assistance, but it is ending and I still don't have anywhere to go. What can I do?

A. The New Jersey and New York Resource Guides provide contact information about homeless shelters, and other services for people who are homeless or at risk of becoming homeless.

You also may be able to extend your aid through a recertification process, or to appeal the decision.

If your appeal isn't successful, try calling one of the faith-based or nonprofit resources listed in your state's Resource Guide at Route 4.

See Getting Help With the Rent, which provides more information on the types of rental assistance available for low-income people. In addition, your state Resource Guide will help you connect to rental assistance in your area.