Neighborhood Housing Services of East Flatbush hosted a free “Help for Homeowners” event at the American Legion Hall on Avenue N in Mill Basin on June 20.
About 250 local homeowners showed up to get helpful information about home ownership, from tips on maintenance and upkeep to advice about tax breaks and being a responsible landlord.
The event was sponsored by Neighborworks America, a national community development group, local elected officials, and Citibank as part of its Global Community Day initiative, with volunteers from the bank helping paint the fence around the veteran’s hall.
Homeowners got information about dealing with mortgage distress, refinancing, reverse mortgages, homeowners insurance, and flood insurance. Neighborhood Housing Services also provided counseling for first-time homeowners, people in need of making emergency repairs, and homeowners interested in fireproofing.
“It was a wonderful opportunity to get people involved and for them to learn things they needed to know about the community and all sorts of aspects of homeownership,” said Councilman Alan Maisel (D–Marine Park), one of the sponsors. “It was a chance for the public to interact with the people and the organizations that provide services to them.”
A representative from Neighborhood Housing Services said the main point of event was to put homeowners in touch with organizations and resources to help preserve the area’s housing stock.
“Our goal is housing preservation — helping homeowners care for and keep their homes,” said Laura Mckenna. “Events like today’s raise residents’ awareness of our services — homeownership education, mortgage counseling, and emergency-repair loans, and grants — as well as resources available through our partners.”
More than 200 attendees received rain barrels, while other event partners raffled off products. Home Depot gave away a gas grill, the fire department gave away smoke alarms, and city’s Office Emergency Management gave away go-bags to keep essential items in case of an evacuation.
