Tenants and Landlords

Counseling Phoneline – HERC operates a special phoneline for those seeking help with their housing problems and answers to their housing questions. The phoneline is in operation on Tuesdays and Fridays from 9 A.M. to 5 P.M. The number is (860) 296-4372. If you have to leave a message, please know that your call will be returned as soon as possible. 

Individual Counseling Sessions – If you prefer, or if your situation requires it, a face-to-face counseling session can be scheduled. You will have to call to arrange an appointment with one of our counselors.

Workshops, Seminars and Training – Educational sessions are conducted for tenant groups, landlord groups, service providers and others about a variety of housing issues. Topics addressed include tenant and landlord rights and responsibilities and fair housing, among others.

Services for Rental Subsidy Participants and their Landlords – Through the North Central Mobility Program specialized services are provided to those participating in the State of Connecticut Section 8 and Rental Assistance Program (RAP).

Home Owners

Mortgage Delinquency/Foreclosure Prevention – HERC offers comprehensive and customized services to those who are delinquent in their mortgage payments and need help to prevent their mortgage from going into default. These services include extensive financial and budget analysis to evaluate current and future ability to reconcile mortgage debt, an exploration of various loss mitigation strategies and working with lenders to facilitate resolution. These services require the homeowner to commit to following a plan of action.

Post-Occupancy Services – Through these services, HERC assists home owners with such issues as refinancing, predatory lending awareness, energy conservation, housing rehabilitation, home maintenance and repairs, household budgeting and avoiding mortgage delinquency.

 

Home Buyers

Home Buying Assessment – Clients are provided with information and education to prepare them for future home purchase. With their counselor they will develop a customized plan of action to work towards the goal of home ownership.  

Individual Pre-purchase Counseling – HERC conducts private, confidential one-on-one counseling with those interested in buying a home. Included in this counseling is a thorough evaluation and discussion of the financial components of purchasing and step-by-step guidance through the home buying process. When provided in conjunction with certain home-buying programs, this counseling may require a total time commitment of at least eight hours.

Groups Seminars for Homeownership Education – HERC conducts group workshops in conjunction with sponsors of special home buying programs, usually targeting first-time purchasers. In addition to providing education and information about the home buying process, specific program guidelines and criteria are addressed.

Landlord Training – For those purchasing multi-family properties, HERC provides education and training focusing on the rights and responsibilities of landlords as well as the financial aspects of owning and operating rental property.

Service Providers

Consultation – HERC counselors are available as a resource to other service providers needing specialized knowledge and expertise regarding housing problems and issues. 

Staff Training – Service providers unfamiliar with current housing laws and issues can receive group training and education from HERC that will help them address the needs of their clients.

Nursing Home Residents

Through the Money Follows the Person Program (MFP), HERC provides a variety of housing coordination services to nursing home residents who have been approved for participation in the MFP Program.  Services include conducting a housing assessment, assisting with various applications including those for the Rental Assistance Program, Security Deposit Guarantee Program and those for tenancy; conducting a housing search; completing and submitting all required paperwork for relocation, and providing any other assistance necessary to facilitate transition to community based housing.

Housing Developers

HERC has assisted developers of low/moderate income housing in several aspects of project development.  Services have included the development of Relocation Plans, providing relocation counseling, tenant education and pre-occupancy education as well as tenant selection.

Municipalities

HERC has developed home buying education programs and has provided group education sessions and individual counseling for town-sponsored home buying programs.  In addition, HERC has assisted communities develop and write their “Analysis of Impediments to Fair Housing” and has provided technical assistance regarding the establishment of Fair Rent Commissions and the development of Fair Housing Policy statements.

These services are provided on a fee-for-service basis.