Maureen, 44, knew she’d to have to get creative in order to pay the mortgage after her divorce. She had some success renting out spare bedrooms on a short-term vacation stay site. When that income stream dried up during the pandemic, she found a roommate through mutual friends. A year later, the roommate decided to get her own place. Maureen tried to manage by herself but prices were skyrocketing and her income had actually gone down. She paid her bills on alternate months in the vain hope that she’d eventually catch up, and fell behind on everything. Her credit score already reflected her missed mortgage payments; her lender could foreclose soon, and she’d received shut-off warnings from her water utility. Anxious and worried, she called PA 2-1-1 Southwest. The Resource Navigator referred Maureen to three local agencies for utility assistance, and to several resources that could help with her mortgage. An attorney from the legal aid office on Maureen’s list agreed to contact her lender. She was thrilled when he negotiated a mortgage modification that would save her $150 per month. She planned to put that toward her utility bills. She’d had a few serious responses to her ad for another roommate, too. Maureen’s resourceful, but sometimes it’s nice to have a helping hand. She’ll always find one at 2-1-1.
If you are in need please contact 211 by dialing 211 or texting your zip code to 898-211.
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