At the beginning of the tax relief program sponsored by the City of Cincinnati, the Hamilton County Treasurer’s Office, and Hamilton County Land Bank Authority, WIN Housing Counselors began meeting with homeowners who were concerned about potentially losing their homes due to delinquent property taxes owed to Hamilton County.
Initially, many homeowners approached the program with skepticism, wondering if the assistance being offered was too good to be true. They came with important questions and concerns about how the program worked, what assistance they qualified for, and how participation would benefit their families and financial futures.
As the program progressed, counselors began witnessing a meaningful shift. Homeowners developed trust in the information and guidance they received, became more comfortable with the process, and began expressing sincere gratitude to all involved for providing this opportunity.
One of the most significant benefits of the program is the opportunity for eligible homeowners to divide their upcoming property tax payments into five installments, making it more manageable to stay current with their property tax obligations moving forward. Let us tell you about one of these families.
One of these families, a young man with a three-year-old son, came to WIN for the Property Tax Relief program that pays back property taxes. After his father’s recent death, Jason had inherited the family home – and its unpaid taxes. Jason had heard about Hamilton County’s property tax relief program and came to WIN for help.
One of the program’s benefits is that homeowners can divide their payments into five installments and pay their taxes forward, making it possible to become current. While waiting for an opening in a truck driving school, Jason works in the “gig” economy, which does not provide predictable paychecks. A WIN counselor worked with him to build a business-like record, which enabled him to apply for this tax forgiveness program and prevent an unnecessary foreclosure.