by Sarahi Perez
The 2008 foreclosure crisis has passed, but its consequences are still affecting people today. One of the thousands who had to endure this epidemic of home foreclosures was Isabel Antonio Barrientos. In 2005, when his daughter was born, Barrientos lived in a small apartment. A year later, when his daughter began to walk, he realized he needed to provide a home where she could eventually run and feel free.
“In El Salvador where I am from,” he said, “my siblings and I were able to run free in the fields, but here in the U.S., it’s more difficult for children to have that freedom.”
He was referred to the Homeownership Program offered by The Resurrection Project (TRP). This free program helps first-time homeowners understand the home buying process, down payment assistance programs, and credit and money management. Participating in this program gave Barrientos the tools and education he needed in the home-buying process.
After completing the two-part course, Barrientos received his certificate of achievement and bought his first home in June of 2008. However, the economy began to spiral downwards, and he began having financial difficulties.
In 2013, after months of struggling with his mortgage payments and the loss of his job, he found the certificate of achievement he received from TRP in 2008. “I recalled how great my experience was at The Resurrection Project and decided to seek their help,” said Barrientos.
Lizette Carretero, TRP’s Home Prevention Specialist, met with Barrientos to assess his situation and provide options. She was able to refinance Barriento’s loan through the Illinois Hardest Hit Program that offered assistance to homeowners that were unemployed.
“Every situation is different and at TRP we offer more than just reducing a person’s monthly payment,” said Carretero. “We offer an entire service that is personalized and free.”
According to Carretero, there is a misconception that because a service is free, it does not hold as much worth as a service that costs money. Ironically, during the foreclosure crisis, many families were taken advantage of by being asked to pay for services that did not generate solutions. TRP’s free services, meanwhile, have helped hundreds purchase or save their home from foreclosure, making it an invaluable community resource.
According to Barrientos, it wasn’t just that the services were free. He says he could have never been able to negotiate with the bank and make possible what TRP did for him. He advises others in a similar situation to not give up and seek help to find the solutions necessary.
For the last 25 years, TRP has helped hundreds of people like the Barrientos family to purchase a home or save it from foreclosure. As part of TRP’s Vision 2020 plan, TRP has increased its homeownership workshops and other services. Recently, TRP also launched the Imagine More Campaign to raise $25 million to fund this vision. This will allow TRP to do more in five years than in the last 25 years.
Today, Barrientos and his family continue to live in their home. “The people who work at The Resurrection Project are the right people who can help in these tough situations,” he said. “They helped me keep my house and now my daughter has a home.”
Learn more about TRP’s homeownership and foreclosure services…