1. Provide Homeownership Housing Counseling services to prospective applicants, at no cost to the applicants, under Washington’s Foreclosure Fairness Act. a. Have at least one dedicated employee to receive “warm hand-offs” from the Washington Homeownership Resource Center during business hours at least 24 hours in a 40-hour work week. b. Provide housing counseling services—subject to the applicant’s schedule—within one business day of receiving a referral for assistance. c. Provide without cost to each applicant default (foreclosure) counseling services that includes, at a minimum, the following topics: i. Authorization. Collect a signed authorization form from the borrower. ii. Disclosure & Privacy Policy. Provide Disclosure Statement signed by client and Privacy Policy signed by client or proof sent to client. iii. Triage. Assess each client's situation with respect to severity/urgency and be noted in the Action Plan. iv. Budget. Develop a budget for the borrower based on borrower’s oral representation of their expenses, debts, and available sources of income. v. Action Plan. Develop a written action plan for the borrower. vi. Verification of Action Taken. Take appropriate action upon the steps outlined in the written action plan, which may include the steps below: 1. Documented attempt to contact the servicer, lender, HOA manager or attorney, Property Tax Assessor/Treasurer, to determine workout options. vii. Draft and submit a hardship letter to the servicer. viii. If workout possible, help client complete and submit forms required by the servicer. ix. Assist in situations where borrower elects to pursue other housing options, including sale options. 2. Provide Representation at Mediation under the Foreclosure Fairness Act. a. Have a least one dedicated employee trained and available to represent homeowners at mediation under the mediation program(s) of the Foreclosure Fairness Act. 3. Ability to provide year-around counseling services to homeowners throughout the entire state of Washington.
