 Giving Back to the Community
AAR proudly announces the 2005 Colorado Association of REALTORS® Housing Opportunity Foundation (CARHOF) Grants
The Aurora Association of REALTORS® is proud to provide significant financial assistance to four organizations that help needy families in the Aurora area.
The grants, which AAR distributed in late August, come from the Colorado Association of REALTORS® Housing Opportunity Foundation (CARHOF). Money for CARHOF comes from financial contributions by REALTORS® and those in real estate-related industries. In its 15-year history, CARHOF donations have exceeded $4 million.
AAR asked CARHOF for funds to assist four local entities that offer a variety of services to needy families and individuals in our community.
City of Aurora Home Ownership Assistance Program (HOAP)
Award: $3,252
Established in 1985, HOAP is a HUD-approved housing counseling agency providing down payment and closing cost assistance, comprehensive no cost counseling in pre-purchase, foreclosure prevention, reverse equity mortgage services for the elderly, pre-foreclosure sale information, and tenant/landlord information.
HOAP helps qualified buyers with the minimum down payment and all of the allowable closing costs up to $10,000 on their first home purchase. This assistance is in the form of a second mortgage which accrues three percent simple interest for five years only and does not require any monthly payments. The loan becomes due and payable upon payoff of the first mortgage, sale of the property, failure to maintain the home as primary residence or upon transfer of ownership. When these loans are paid off, the funds are then used to assist another low income family.
The Aurora Interchurch Task Force, Inc.
Award: $2,168
AITF is a volunteer agency whose sole aim is to provide substantive emergency assistance to those in need. In 2004, AITF helped 14,791 Aurora residents, offering emergency housing and rental assistance, help with utility bills, and transportation assistance. It also helped many Aurorans to pay for their prescription drugs.
According to AITF, the fundamental cause of homelessness is poverty. The organization's goal is to provide those in need with financial assistance they need to avoid the frightening possibility of not being able to pay their bills.
Gateway Battered Women’s Services
Award: $2,168
This organization assists women and children fleeing from domestic violence. HUD considers most domestic violence victims as low- to moderate-income individuals because many women who escape violent homes find themselves with diminished access to financial resources. AAR's CARHOF grant to the Gateway Battered Women's Shelter will help insure that an estimated 300 households will benefit from the assistance this organization provides.
Catholic Charities Aurora Central/ Aurora Emergency Assistance Center
Award: $2,168
Catholic Charities Aurora Central provides assistance to prevent homelessness, utility shut offs and hunger. Through the services offered by Catholic Charities Emergency Assistance Centers, clients are given the opportunity to solve their immediate needs in the short-term and work to regain their self-sustainability for the long term. The Aurora Emergency Assistance Center provides medical and personal care needs in addition to providing, for at least 30 days assistance that prevents individuals and families from losing their homes. Last year, the Catholic Charities Aurora Central Emergency Assistance Center served 6,159 households – close to 14,000 people.
The Aurora Association of REALTORS®’ CARHOF Committee, chaired by Sharon D. Henderson, MB – Metroplex Real Estate, extends its thanks to AAR members who contributed to CARHOF through donations and earnest money escrow accounts, the CARHOF “Non-Event”, the CAR Trip Raffle and to those who participated in the Colorado Cares Program. Through your efforts last year, CARHOF was able to give AAR close to $10,000 to help our Aurora community.
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