Meet the Mitchell's 

A couple with 2 biological children and 2 adopted special needs children called Catholic Charities regarding their housing situation.  They had been in a verbal “rent-to-own” agreement where they paid the owners $600 per month with the intent of purchasing the house.  One day a sheriff appeared at their door and advised them that they had to vacate the house because it had been sold at a sheriff’s sale.  The owners had defaulted on the mortgage payment, but the clients never knew because they were not listed on the title. 

Catholic Charities’ housing counselor advocated to the judge for an extension so that the clients could have time to find another place to live.  The judge agreed and the clients found another home.  The counselor also worked with the family to help them qualify for a USDA loan if they agreed to enter into a plan to liquidate their debt.  A credit counselor at Catholic Charities was then able to enroll them in a Debt Management Program, which will allow them to clear their collection accounts in less than 2 years.

The couple is expected to close on their home soon and will have a substantially lower payment than the $600 rent payment they started with.

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Reducing Poverty One Client at a Time. . . Penny’s Story

Every day Catholic Charities helps single parent families abandoned by their spouses or partners, but determined to raise their children the best they can.  Penny came to a Catholic Charities Agency in the Diocese of Youngstown after her husband left her.  She was in the early stages of pregnancy and frightened for the future of her child.  She did not want to have an abortion, but was terrified of raising her child entirely alone.  A Catholic Charities staff member reassured Penny that the Catholic community would not abandon her or her child, but would be there to offer prayers, support and love.  Catholic Charities also provided Penny with financial assistance, case management and help with baby items to help her prepare for the birth of her child.