SB Community

The vision of HOPE Connections is that no individual The vision of HOPE Connections is that no individual or family has to experience homelessness in Northwest or family has to experience homelessness in Northwest Louisiana. To bring that vision into reality, HOPE’s mis-Louisiana. To bring that vision into reality, HOPE’s mission is to guide and foster a comprehensive, coordinated sion is to guide and foster a comprehensive, coordinated W hen most of us lay down for the night, we often think of the tasks for the day ahead or the things we have forgotten on our to-do list. Rarely do we stop and think of the people who do not have a place to call home. On any given night, there are individuals and families who are forced to take shelter on the streets, under bridges, or anywhere that’s warm and dry. hen most of us lay down for the night, we often think of the tasks for forgotten on our to-do list. Rarely do do not have a place to call home. On are forced to take shelter on the streets, under bridges, or homeless services system for those at risk of experiencing homelessness grounded in rich collaboration or engaging the passion of the community. The homeless population in America was already steadily increasing before the world was impacted by the pandemic. Last year, there were over 580,000 American citizens living on the streets and that number is expected to increase by the end of this year. As of 2020, there were over 3,100 Louisianans without homes. That’s a 7.9% increase from the previous year. homeless services system for those at risk of experiencing homelessness grounded in rich collaboration or engaging the passion of the community. The homeless population in America was already steadily increasing before the world was impacted by the pandemic. Last year, there were over 580,000 American citizens living on the streets and that number is expected to increase by the end of this year. As of 2020, there were over 3,100 Louisianans without homes. That’s a 7.9% increase from the previous year. HOPE Connections is bringing people together to prevent and end homelessness in Northwest Louisiana. Volunteers and members of the HOPE Connections Street Outreach Team make routine stops at homeless Volunteers and members of the HOPE Connections Street Outreach Team make routine stops at homeless In the early 1990s, a group of community volunteers saw camps and underpasses across the area checking in on camps and underpasses across the area checking in on the effect that homelessness was having on our commu-the effect that homelessness was having on our commu- people and passing out much needed items. Once the people and passing out much needed items. Once the nities and decided to come together to find a realistic nities and decided to come together to find a realistic team determines homelessness, the Coordinated Access team determines homelessness, the Coordinated Access solution for Northwest Louisiana. What began as the Team provides assessments and determines placement Team provides assessments and determines placement Hope for the Homeless organization eventually evolved with the agencies which can provide needed services with the agencies which can provide needed services into the official non-profit organization HOPE Connec- and/or sheltering through the HOPE Coalition. The co-and/or sheltering through the HOPE Coalition. The cotions in 2001. Christa Pazzaglia has served as Executive tions in 2001. Christa Pazzaglia has served as Executive alition currently includes Providence House, Council on alition currently includes Providence House, Council on Director since 2008. Alcoholism and Drug Abuse of Northwest Louisiana, Vol-Alcoholism and Drug Abuse of Northwest Louisiana, Vol-

unteers of America North Louisiana, Easter Seals, and Project Celebration, just to name a few.

Having a formalized coalition of agency coordination allows for eligibility of federal funding through the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). The local agencies coordinate services and report data using a shared Homeless Management Information System (HMIS). HOPE Connections consolidates the data for tracking and reporting purposes.

In May of 2020, due to the pandemic, HOPE Connections turned its day shelter into a 22-bed emergency shelter. HOPE has plans to construct a 37-bed shelter that will stand behind their existing headquarters on Levy Street in Shreveport. Individuals and families will have access to beds, showers, laundry facilities, telephones, computers, and information about other agencies and services. Once complete, the emergency shelter will revert to a day shelter.

Any agency, organization, church, or individual who is interested in working collaboratively to end homelessness is invited to attend HOPE Connections Homeless Coalition monthly meetings.

In May of 2020, due to the that will stand behind their Levy Street in Shreveport. vices. Once complete, the emergency shelter will revert to a Any agency, organization, church, or individual who is in-

HOPE Connections is bringing people together to prevent and end homelessness in Northwest Louisiana.

Commercial & Residential

LAWN & LANDSCAPE SERVICE

CUSTOMER SERVICE IS KEY!

At Harris Custom Lawn Care, we provide services for commercial and residential customers. For our residential customers, we offer weekly and bi-weekly plans at affordable rates and for our commercial clients, we offer monthly rates.

(318) 349-4163

www.harriscustomlawncare.com

MORTGAGE LENDING

NOLA LENDING GROUP, A DIVISION OF FIDELITY BANK NOLA LENDING GROUP, A DIVISION OF FIDELITY BANK

NOLA Lending Group offers Residential Mortgage Lending and has been a mutually owned community bank since 1908. We NOLA Lending Group offers Residential Mortgage Lending and has been a mutually owned community bank since 1908. We help our clients achieve their dream of home ownership by delivering an exceptional experience focused on their needs. help our clients achieve their dream of home ownership by delivering an exceptional experience focused on their needs. Our mission, vision and values define Fidelity Bank’s foundation. Our core values are our promise to our clients. When we Our mission, vision and values define Fidelity Bank’s foundation. Our core values are our promise to our clients. When we live the mission, “Here for Good,” and our values we enrich our strong heritage and ensure our longevity as a financially live the mission, “Here for Good,” and our values we enrich our strong heritage and ensure our longevity as a financially stable and operationally sound institution. stable and operationally sound institution.

BRIAN DAVIDSON

NMLS #: 109055 NOLA LENDING GROUP SHREVEPORT 9242 ELLERBE ROAD SUITE 100 SHREVEPORT, LA 71106 318-703-3531

WHY DOES IT TAKE SO LONG TO CLOSE A HOME LOAN?

harmful transactions. A foreclosure has long lasting, negative consequences. If a jacket does not fit, the consumer can generally exchange it or get a full refund. With real estate, the stakes are The success or failure of a home loan is largely determined on how a variety of tasks to acquire the most accurate information. A colleague of mine once explained the process of a mortgage approval like this: “Have you ever watched ‘the credits’ after a movie, where they list all the people who helped create it? The up artists. The people who built the sets. The stunt professionals. The lighting. The wardrobe. Etc., That’s what it’s like closing a mortgage. Dozens of people working together to get your loan closed, and it takes time to do it right.” Documents needed to perform this due diligence include but are not limited to: A credit report showing all information and FICO Scores from all three credit bureaus. 30 days of paystubs. 2-3 years This is a common and understandable question. Consumers of W2s/1099s/1098s/K-1s. 2-3 years of personal tax returns. If are accustomed to ever faster, ever more convenient prod- self-employed, 2-3 years of business tax returns. 2 months of bank

ucts and services from a wide variety of companies. From the simple purchase of a meal, to the purchase of an auto the simple purchase of a meal, to the purchase of an auto-

mobile, to the purchase of a home, we are constantly looking mobile, to the purchase of a home, we are constantly looking property settlement. Child support verification. Explanations for for a speedier solution. So, in this microwavable world with derogatory credit or bank account information. Explanations for

overnight delivery guaranteed, why is it not much faster to finance a home purchase?

The answer lies in the nature of the home loan itself. Most The answer lies in the nature of the home loan itself. Most What about the property itself? Once a lender determines products and services fulfill short term needs. A home loan, by contrast, satisfies a long-term need. The average American lives attention to the collateral for the loan. A professional appraiser at a home he/she owns for at least 5 to 7 years, some much longer. at a home he/she owns for at least 5 to 7 years, some much longer. must determine the property’s fair market value, so we know if And, most home loans have terms of 10 to 30 years to keep them And, most home loans have terms of 10 to 30 years to keep them the home is worth what borrower is contracted to pay for it. They affordable. must also hire a title attorney to examine the legal records to As most can attest, a lot can happen in five years. Therefore, to make that commitment, lenders must not only protect themselves, but also their clients from unwise, even financially they must make certain that an insurer will protect the property from events such as fire, hurricanes, tornadoes, hail, and flooding. make a final decision as to whether all guidelines have been met. more time. Once a clear to close is issued, then a closer is assigned them to a closing agent, and arranges for the wiring of the proper funds to them. At this point, the parties are all ready to close and must all agree on a time that works for everyone. tasks can be coordinated into a timely and smooth process is quite a testament to the many talented mortgage professionals we are blessed to have in our NWLA community. It is certainly challenging work, but you will have a difficult time finding any one of us who will not agree that our great industry is a “labor of love.”

harmful transactions. A foreclosure has long lasting, negative consequences. If a jacket does not fit, the consumer can generally exchange it or get a full refund. With real estate, the stakes are much higher. The success or failure of a home loan is largely determined on how well a lender verifies a borrower’s financial credentials; a process called “due diligence.” This involves many individuals performing a variety of tasks to acquire the most accurate information. A colleague of mine once explained the process of a mortgage approval like this: “Have you ever watched ‘the credits’ after a movie, where they list all the people who helped create it? The actors. The directors. The camera operators. The hair and makeup artists. The people who built the sets. The stunt professionals. The lighting. The wardrobe. Etc., That’s what it’s like closing a mortgage. Dozens of people working together to get your loan closed, and it takes time to do it right.” Documents needed to perform this due diligence include but are not limited to: A credit report showing all information and FICO Scores from all three credit bureaus. 30 days of paystubs. 2-3 years of W2s/1099s/1098s/K-1s. 2-3 years of personal tax returns. If self-employed, 2-3 years of business tax returns. 2 months of bank and investment account statements. Pension and/or disability award letters. Verification of employment. Divorce decree/ property settlement. Child support verification. Explanations for derogatory credit or bank account information. Explanations for gaps in employment. Military service records (VA Loans), etc., And, this is just to get pre-qualified! What about the property itself? Once a lender determines there is an acceptable borrower risk, they must then turn their attention to the collateral for the loan. A professional appraiser must determine the property’s fair market value, so we know if the home is worth what borrower is contracted to pay for it. They must also hire a title attorney to examine the legal records to As most can attest, a lot can happen in five years. Therefore, to make that commitment, lenders must not only protect themselves, but also their clients from unwise, even financially insure the proper conveyance from the seller to the buyer. Then, they must make certain that an insurer will protect the property from events such as fire, hurricanes, tornadoes, hail, and flooding. Finally, an underwriter must review all documentation, and make a final decision as to whether all guidelines have been met. However, if you know anything about insurance underwriters, additional documents or explanations will be needed, which takes more time. Once a clear to close is issued, then a closer is assigned who draws up all loan documents, roughly 100 pages, delivers them to a closing agent, and arranges for the wiring of the proper funds to them. At this point, the parties are all ready to close and must all agree on a time that works for everyone. So, as you can see by now, the fact that all these people and tasks can be coordinated into a timely and smooth process is quite a testament to the many talented mortgage professionals we are blessed to have in our NWLA community. It is certainly challenging work, but you will have a difficult time finding any one of us who will not agree that our great industry is a “labor of love.”