(The Center Square) – The city of Spokane is scrambling to hire certified housing counselors as federal cuts upend a program that prevented over 700 home foreclosures in the area last year.
Federal funding typically pays for the counseling services provided by individuals certified by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. According to HUD, there are 10 housing counseling agencies across the state, with Community Frameworks and Credit.org in Spokane.
The counselors help residents avoid eviction, handle disputes with landlords and access other services amid housing insecurity. Dawn Kinder, director of Spokane’s Neighborhood, Housing and Human Services division, said Monday that the city wants to fill the service gap by July…