03-12-2010 FP Digital Edition

Community Connection
Breaking down barriers
to housing by faith
By LaTesha Slappy
Mission of Peace National Corp.
(MOPNC) is a faith-based Michigan
not-for-proﬁ t tax-exempt 501 (c) (3)
corporation with a mission to break
down barriers through faith by provid-
ing housing counseling services that
increase the capacity of low- to mod-
erate-income individuals and families
Home repair
participation in the housing market.
MOPNC is located at 333 W. Fort St.,
Suite 1200, in Detroit. Our ofﬁ ces
program for
are open 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday-
Friday. MOPNC employs counselors
who have over 20 years experience
Detroit’s west side
in housing counseling and are HUD
certiﬁ ed. MOPNC is a HUD-approved
housing counseling agency that
residents
places a priority on providing quality
education and conﬁ dential housing
Rebuilding Together Detroit (RTD) is seeking ap-
counseling to anyone with a housing
plications from low-income homeowners who are in
counseling need.
need of minor home repair assistance. RTD is the lo-
The Rev. Elmira Smith-Vincent,
cal afﬁ liate of the nation’s largest volunteer organiza-
Mission of Peace Corp. founder,
tion dedicated to providing minor home rehabilitation
president and CEO, conducted class-
for low-income homeowners, particularly the elderly
es and invited potential homeown-
and disabled, so they may live in warmth, safety and
ers to meet with banks, mortgage
independence. Repairs could include:
companies and Realtors. Soon after
• Installing smoke and carbon monoxide
conducting the ﬁ rst series of classes,
detectors
Rev. Smith-Vincent experienced a
• Clearing debris from exterior of the home
phenomenal response from individu-
• Trimming shrubbery; trimming low-hanging
als interested in the homeownership
branches
classes. In 1997, MOPNC was formed
• Replacing broken glass
to provide homeownership education
IN 1997, the Rev. Elmira Smith-Vincent founded Mission of Peace National
• Improving exterior and interior lighting
to more individuals and families. The
Corp. after she realized the need to educate individuals and families on home
• Installing grab bars
organization, through a highly trained
purchasing.
• Painting
staff, committed volunteer base and
Management, Life Skills and Nutrition. Our housing
On Saturday, April 24, approximately 30 RTD vol-
leadership of its president/CEO, has successfully im-
programs also consist of designing and development
unteers will work on several homes, providing thou-
plemented long-term strategies which have increased
of newly built homes and acquisition and rehabilitation
sands of dollars worth of home improvements as part
the number of low-to-moderate income families and
of existing homes for the purpose of providing afford-
of The 2010 National Rebuild Day. This event is sup-
individuals to achieve homeownership and have equal
able housing. MOPNC was approved in 2007 by the
ported entirely by contributions of time, labor, mate-
access to credit.
Department of Justice to provide the preﬁ ling bank-
rial and money. Skilled and unskilled volunteers, along
Since its beginning, MOPNC has acted as a cata-
ruptcy counseling for clients throughout the State of
with employees of the sponsoring organizations, com-
lyst for change and been viewed by national and local
Michigan.
plete the repairs at no cost to the homeowner.
partners and the community as a dedicated, high-qual-
MOPNC utilizes a cooperative service delivery ap-
To qualify for the program the applicant must
ity service provider of housing-related services. The
proach to meeting the needs of individuals and fami-
own their own home in the City of Detroit’s west
U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development
lies. MOPNC accomplishes its goals by appropriately
side and have a combined income of less than 80
approved Mission of Peace National Corp. in 2003 as
leveraging its relationship with businesses, education-
percent of the HUD median income. Preference is
one of its National Intermediary for Housing Counsel-
al institutions, labor unions, government and other
given to homeowners who are elderly and/or dis-
ing.
non-proﬁ t agencies to assist its clients in achieving ho-
abled. Homeowners can request an application
Mission of Peace provides a full range of compre-
meownership. Since its inception, MOPNC has coun-
by calling the RTD ofﬁ ce at 313-438-2545. Dead-
hensive counseling for all individuals with different
seled over 75, 000 individuals and/or families. To date
line for application submittal has been extended
income levels. Our various counseling programs con-
8,500 of those clients have gone into homeownership
until March 15. Please refer to our website: www.
sist of: Pre- and Post-Purchase, Budget Counseling,
with the help of MOPNC. We have also helped 14,000
rebuildingtogetherdetroit.com for a full list of pro-
Credit Counseling, Home Buyer’s Club, Fresh Start
clients successfully avoid foreclosure since 1997. For
gram requirements.
Banking Basics, Foreclosure Prevention, Reverse
more information about MOPNC go to www.mis-
Mortgage, Rental Issues, Energy Efﬁ ciency, Property
sionofpeace.com or call 810-232-0104.
www.frontpageconnect.com • March 12, 2010 7
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