I learned today that there are some people with great talent who due to being retired and/or unemployed have found a way to serve a growing need in the Rogue Valley.

ACCESS, Inc. is our local non-profit community action agency, and their Southern Oregon Housing Resource Center is the HUD approved counselor for seniors seeking reverse mortgages and for homeowners in need of foreclosure counseling, as well as the administrator of local down payment assistance programs and the "ABC's of Homebuying" class for first time home buyers. With the huge increase in demand for these services, ACCESS had to put foreclosure counseling on hold for a while.

Great news! Community members are stepping in to help fill the gap with these housing services, and are donating their time to do so. At a time when some of the funding sources for these non-profits have decreased, it is wonderful to hear there are people stepping up to the plate and making a difference in our community. "Food & Friends"....doesn't the name for this program that serves homebound seniors have a lovely ring to it?

Volunteers are always welcome to help with the many valuable programs ACCESS Inc. and the Southern Oregon Housing Resource Center provide to Southern Oregon residents, and with the greater volume of people in need with today's economy, your help is needed!

See you out there!

Karen Cooper - OR/CA Mortgage Consultant - www.Quality4Loans.com