After previously announcing a $100,000 grant to Genesee County to support foreclosure prevention programs, the Rocket Community Fund pledged an additional $90,000 in funds at a press conference on March 2.
The one-year, $100,000 grant to the county treasurer’s office will support the expansion of property tax exemption assistance and foreclosure prevention for eligible homeowners in the county. The additional $90,000 grant is to Legal Services of Eastern Michigan
“We believe that stable housing is the foundation for strong families and thriving communities,” said Beth Sorce, the senior director of housing stability at the Rocket Community Fund. “When a homeowner loses their property to tax foreclosure, it’s not just a financial loss. It’s a loss of security, stability, and oftentimes generational wealth. Property tax foreclosure is one of the most significant threats to low-income homeowners and housing stability. Together these investments will enable proactive outreach so homeowners can learn about the support available before they fall behind. They’ll also support application processing and housing counseling so homeowners can get access to the resources they need. They’ll also provide direct legal support to houses facing foreclosure so homeowners can remain in their homes.”
Flint Mayor Sheldon Neeley, Genesee County Commissioner Gary Goetzinger, Genesee County Treasurer Sam Muma, and Legal Services of Eastern Michigan Chief Operating Officer Brian Smith all spoke at the press conference announcing the grant.
The funds help enhance work Legal Services of Eastern Michigan is already doing. The organization, which was founded in 1951 and serves 14 counties in Michigan, provides free civil legal assistance to people living in poverty on a wide range of issues. Smith noted that most of their clients are currently living at about 125 percent of the poverty line and that many are seniors, people with disabilities, or families with young children.
“This grant will allow us to respond to urgent individual needs related to property tax exemptions and foreclosure prevention while also building a foundation of awareness that, over time, can remove barriers that have existed in our community for many years,” Smith said. “Ultimately this is about protecting housing stability and that eligible homeowners can access the help that’s available, families can stay in their homes, and neighborhoods can stay strong.”
Along with the support for legal services to help families stay in homes, $100,000 of the funds will help the Genesee County Treasurer strengthen outreach programs, application processing, housing counseling, and provide direct client assistance to help residents access available relief.
“One of the main reasons the county exists is to bring residents closer to resources that can enhance their lives,” Muma said. “Our job is to help connect people to solutions and make those solutions easier to access. This is one major step in that direction. We also see this as part of a larger commitment. The treasurer’s office wants to play an active role in the community development across Genesee County. Our community is stronger today because of this investment in our residents.”
Property tax foreclosure poses a significant threat to Michigan homeowners, particularly those with limited incomes. In recent years, Michigan has been as high as ninth in the country in total foreclosures and 13th in foreclosure rate. Michigan’s property tax exemption program, known as the HOPE program in Detroit and Flint, offers eligible low-income homeowners the opportunity to reduce or eliminate property tax obligations so they can remain in their homes and maintain ownership. For more information, contact Robin Teeples in the Office of the Genesee County Treasurer at (810) 257-3481. The Rocket Community Fund began focusing on property tax foreclosure prevention and reform in Detroit in 2013, when Rocket Companies Chairman and Founder Dan Gilbert was named co-chair of the Federal Detroit Blight Removal Taskforce. Through programs like Neighbor to Neighbor, an annual canvassing initiative that delivered property tax exemption information and other resources directly to residents, the fund has helped reduce property tax foreclosures in Wayne County from a peak of 28,323 in 2015 to 2,111 in 2024.
Subscribe to our weekly newsletter to catch up on all of our headlines every Tuesday.
