Financial Counseling Services
Financial Counseling
Take control of your financial future by meeting with our housing and financial counselor, Sonya Dease. Her services are offered at no cost to the client thanks to generous sponsors.
Financial counseling can help prepare individuals and families for home ownership; work on budgets; plan savings goals; improve credit scores and help families and individuals get financially fit.
Our counseling includes:
- How to build financial skills and improve overall financial health
- How to build an effective debt action plan
- Assistance with budgeting and credit repair
- Assistance on exploring public assistance benefits when applicable
Reserve your free financial counseling session by making an appointment and completing our interest form. Our interest form will help Sonya better assist you during your meeting.
HECM/Reverse Mortgage Counseling Program Overview
Dundalk Renaissance can assist income eligible individuals and families continue to be homeowners. Our counseling includes:
- Counseling on how reverse mortgages work
- Counseling on reverse mortgage responsibilities
- Assistance with budgeting and credit repair
- Assistance on completing loan applications
If you have questions about this program, please reach out to Sonya Dease, our housing and financial counselor (410.282.0261 ext 107 | Sonya@DundalkUSA.org).
Foreclosure/Delinquency Counseling Program Authorization
Dundalk Renaissance can assist income eligible individuals and families remain homeowners. Our counseling includes:
- Discussing the situation that led to default
- Explaining assistance programs and alternatives
- Assistance with budgeting and credit repair
- Assistance on completing applications with lenders
If you are interested in this program, please fill out our intake form. Be sure to upload your most recent bank statement, mortgage statement, current paystubs for everyone on the mortgage, and copy of foreclosure notice or tax sale notice.
If you have questions about this program, contact Sonya Dease, our housing and financial counselor (410.282.0261 ext 107 | Sonya@DundalkUSA.org).
Tax Preparation
Dundalk Renaissance is offering free tax preparation in partnership with Maryland CASH Campaign. Households or individuals who earned less than $60,000 in 2022 are eligible to have their federal and state taxes filed at no cost.
Meetings are by appointment only. Be sure to select Dundalk Renaissance as your site. Tax preparation will be held Tuesday and Wednesday 10am-4pm and Friday 10am-3pm starting February 6 through April 14.
Workshops
Sonya hosts quarterly financial counseling workshops that provide the foundational knowledge needed to make stronger financial decisions and reach personal savings goals. Classes typically meet on the second Tuesday of the month and include a featured partner to help identify additional tools and resources individuals can use to meet their goals.
“I took the webinar class on Money Management with Dundalk Renaissance’s Housing and Financial Counselor, Sonya…After the webinar, I really appreciated getting one-on-one personalized support!
Every suggestion that Miss Sonya gave, we did it at that moment, together. She was really supportive and helpful, we got a lot done while we were on the phone. Even things that I thought wouldn’t work, Sonya told me: ‘Just try it, you’ll be fine.’…And she was absolutely correct!
While we were on the phone together, I was able to refinance my car and open a new credit card account! Now I have a lower car payment — it went from over $600 monthly to less than $500! I’m going to use that savings to prepare for purchasing a home. Sonya at Dundalk Renaissance is really amazing.” –Denise