MSU Extension outlines free and low-cost housing, financial and community education programs

Renee Johnson, a staff member with the MSU Extension office, presented the commission with an overview of Extension services available to residents, including free money-management and budgeting classes, property tax and mortgage foreclosure basics, rental counseling, disaster recovery education and a HUD-required homebuyer education course.

Johnson said most classes are offered free, with the HUD homebuyer education listed as a four-hour session that carries a $25 fee for online participants but is free when offered in-person; hardship codes can be issued to waive fees. She described one-hour sessions on foreclosure basics that explain the processes and options for homeowners and noted that Extension staff provide intake-driven counseling that can include outreach to lenders on a client’s behalf.

The presenter said Extension partners with 35 housing counseling agencies and receives funding from a mix of local and private sources, including county allocations, Huntington Bank, state dollars and HUD grants. Extension maintains offices in Warren and Clinton Township and conducts outreach via community events and targeted mailings to treasurers and assessors.

Johnson provided examples of classroom topics — credit and wealth-building tips, renting and landlord-tenant education, retirement myths, and reverse mortgage referrals — and said most courses run 60–90 minutes, with the homebuyer education class running about four hours. She invited commissioners to request on-site sessions for community events, noting Extension can provide tables, short classes or full workshops tailored to local needs.

Commissioners thanked Johnson and agreed to post Extension schedules on the city’s social channels to boost outreach. Johnson said schedules for April–June would be posted at mimmoneyhealth.org and noted that demand for foreclosure- and tax-related help remains high as program funds in some cases have been exhausted.

The presentation concluded with an offer to coordinate future events and materials for city distribution.