Step housing program maine

MaineHousing, in partnership with housing assistance agencies throughout the state, offers Housing Choice Vouchers through the Home to Stay Program for individuals and families who are homeless and seeking permanent housing. Emergency Housing Voucher program is a unique program to help serve individuals and families in Maine who are experiencing or at risk of homelessness.

What is a Continuum of Care? A Continuum of Care is a group of service providers in a particular geographic area who work together in a collaborative planning process to develop programs that address homelessness.

Continuums can apply to the U. The mission of the MCOC is to plan and coordinate an inclusive system that helps Maine people avoid or exit quickly from homelessness, and to address the underlying causes of homelessness.

Membership is free and is open to the public. There are usually about 30 different organizations represented at any given meeting, ranging from state government agencies to small non-profit grassroots groups.

Each member of the MCOC is a vital link in a collaborative community network, and as such, shares in ideas, concerns and decisions regarding the development, and deployment of resources to address the needs of people who are homeless and those at risk of becoming homeless.

Organizations that receive CoC or ESG Emergency Solutions Grant funding are expected to be members in good standing of their local Continuum of Care in order to continue to be eligible for funding.

To be in good standing, and eligible to vote at MCOC, an organization must have been represented during at least 6 of the previous 12 regular meetings. Because MCOC is a statewide entity and wants to encourage and support participation from all areas of the state, meetings utilize a video teleconferencing system to connect up to seven different meeting sites, located at MaineHousing and at several Public Libraries. There is also a phone in option for those not able to travel to one of the teleconferencing locations.

Please visit www. We encourage everyone to subscribe this site by simply providing an email address in order to receive automatic notices whenever new information is made available, such as meeting reminders, agendas, minutes, and other materials. There are currently more than subscribers! MaineHousing is responsible for monitoring subrecipient agencies for compliance.

MaineHousing program officers conduct annual monitoring of programs, as well as ongoing compliance consultation as needed. Contained in this section is what you need to know in order to be ready for a monitoring visit. MaineHousing collaborates with local service providers to assist in access to and delivery of the program in their community.

Once you factor in mortgage insurance, homeowners insurance and taxes, borrowing the full amount you qualified for can leave you with little cash left over.

Use a mortgage calculator or a rent vs buy comparison to determine if buying a home is the right choice for you. Before you visit a lender, work out a budget with a mortgage payment that is comfortable for you. Return to top. A First Home Lender will help you find the best loan guaranty or mortgage insurance option for you.

If you are pre-approved, the lender will provide you with a Loan Estimate a few days after you apply for the loan. The Loan Estimate will help you understand the full cost of the mortgage, including fees and interest.

Keep this document safe as you will want to use it again before your loan closes. When shopping for a home, keep your needs and wants in mind, take notes, and ask questions. For most homebuyers, the first step toward buying a home is connecting with a trusted real estate professional to help them along the way.

In addition, a real estate professional will help you determine how the asking price compares to the market value based on recent sales of comparable homes in the area. Inclusion of this clause enables you to hire a home inspector for the purpose of doing a thorough structural and mechanical inspection of the home.

You may also want to consider other third parties to test for arsenic, uranium, radon, and lead for homes with private well water and septic tank and field lines for a private wastewater system. The cost of a home inspection can vary depending upon the thoroughness of the inspection, time of year and location, however the inspection finding s will help you evaluate whether there are any deal-breakers. You can also use the findings to possibly help negotiate repairs with the seller before closing or credits with the seller before closing.

Unsure of where to find a home inspector? Home inspectors are not licensed, but many are certified which means they have passed an exam and have agreed to abide by standards of practice.

There are three organizations that certify home inspectors:. Real Estate professionals have typically worked with a variety of qualified home inspectors and may be able to suggest a reputable contact. It also provides protection if you or a family member are held legally responsible liable for injuries to others or damage to their property. After closing, your lender may include insurance premiums and property taxes in your monthly payment and hold the funds in an escrow account until the bills for each are due to be paid.

When looking for an insurance policy, you should first decide what coverages and policy limits you need. Talk with a contractor or your insurance agent about what it would cost to rebuild your home at current material and labor rates to ensure your coverage is adequate. When requesting quotes make sure you are asking each agent or company for the same coverages and limits so that you know you are comparing apples to apples.

The location of your house may require additional insurance coverage, such as flood insurance, to be purchased prior to your loan closing. The lender will arrange for a title search to determine whether or not the property has a clear title. Having a clear title means that there are no known liens or claims against the property which could affect your interest in the property. A title search will determine the history of ownership and whether there are any liens, claims, or unpaid taxes.

However, should a problem with the title arise after closing it does not protect the buyer, cover the owner's equity in the property, or pay the homeowner's legal expenses. Closing day is when the seller receives their funds and you receive the deed and keys to your new home! At the closing you will be required to sign legal documents for the loan and transfer of property. You will also need to pay any needed closing costs,escrow items, and down payment.

Three days before loan closing you will have an opportunity to review the final estimate of closing costs called a Closing Disclosure. The Closing Disclosure is a document that provides final details about the mortgage loan you have selected including the loan terms, your projected monthly payments, and how much you will pay in fees and other closing costs.

It is recommended that you compare the Closing Disclosure information to the Loan Estimate, which the lender provided you with a few days after you applied for the loan.

You have the right to request a walk-through inspection of the property 24 hours before closing. This walk-through is an opportunity to ensure that the seller has vacated the property and left it in an acceptable condition with all appliances and other items included in the sale as agreed. Keeping Up With Repairs.

Every step you take now to care for your home will benefit you and your family in the future. It is important that you maintain the condition of your home for safety and comfort and to protect the value of your property. Maintaining your property requires both time and money.

When it comes to budgeting for annual home maintenance, a general rule of thumb is to set aside one percent of the price you paid for your home. An emergency fund should cover at least 3 to 6 months' worth of living expenses, including the most common expenses such as, mortgage payment, utility bills, food costs, health insurance, student loans, car payments and car insurance. You can build your emergency fund by putting away small amounts on a regular basis, every week or every paycheck.

If you are looking for a tool to help establish your budget based on actual expenses as a new homeowner, Mint is a free, secure online tool that allows you to download all your financial information from your bank and then track and categorize your spending. Mint will create a budget for you based on your spending habits. Should you encounter a financial issue or a hardship that prevents you from making your mortgage payment, or you have not yet been late on your payments, but are worried that it could happen, make a call for help right away.

Consider making your home more energy efficient.