Home Ownership Resource Network

Summary: The Home Ownership Resource Network was a statewide collaborative of home ownership counseling agencies organized and staffed by the Partnership in response to the problems associated with consolidation in the financial services industry. The network sponsored counselor training programs, fostered information sharing and advocated for increased funding for counseling services. The Partnership continues to maintain a directory of Wisconsin counseling agencies. Click here to view the list of agencies by city, by county or by agency name.

Wisconsin Partnership's role: Consultant

Staff contact: Kristin Silva

Status of work: Completed in 2002

As consolidation in the financial services industry increased, the ideal of the "friendly home-town banker" seemed to be disappearing. Regional lenders usually apply the same underwriting standards in all areas where they do business, and they aren't always able to cultivate the personal relationships with prospective buyers that were the norm in the past.

In 1998, to address the increasing distance between prospective home buyers and mortgage lenders, the Partnership formed and for several years staffed a statewide network of home ownership counseling agencies. The network's initial goal was to improve access to mortgage financing by assuring lenders that prospective buyers -- especially those with lower incomes -- were well prepared for the responsibilities of home ownership. Work on developing the network was supported by the Partnership's HOME TA contract with HUD.

During the network's early days, the UW-Extension designed and delivered a training package to members. A three-day workshop was supplemented by independent study, conference calls and a final face-to-face session. Agency participation in the training series was funded by pass-through of the Partnership's HUD funds. A steering committee subsequently drafted a proposal for the network's structure and future activities, and members voted to continue under the auspices of the resulting plan.

Although the network is no longer active, its former members serve all counties in Wisconsin. Additional agencies that provide counseling, as well as agencies wishing to establish counseling programs, are welcome to be included in the Partnership's online counseling database. Click here for a list of Wisconsin counseling agencies by city, by county or by agency name.