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Welcome to Helping Our Heroes™
Helping Our Heroes™ is a program sponsored by the MORe Charitable Foundation dedicated to raising money to help active duty Illinois Military Personnel, Veterans, Fire Fighters, and Police Officers facing residential-expense related hardships.
Our Illinois Heroes are facing financial hardships
Many Illinois Military and Public Service personnel face financial hardships, foreclosure, and eviction from their residences because they and their loved-ones cannot meet residential-related expenses.
They need your help—Helping Our HeroesTM, a volunteer-staffed not-for-profit Charity, is devoted to helping them when others cannot.
About the Foundation & how we distribute the money
The Mainstreet Organization of REALTORS® Charitable Foundation's Helping Our Heroes is 501C3 designated. ALL net proceeds from the Helping Our Heroes™ Program, sponsored by this Foundation, will be distributed to qualifying active duty Illinois Military Personnel, Veterans, Fire Fighters, Police Officers, and Veterans that are in financial distress regarding paying their mortgage and necessary home repairs.
Who have we helped
Helping Our Heroes has helped 36 families that were close to foreclosure and eviction.
Foreclosure Prevention Act of 2008
Preserving the American Dream for Our Nation’s Veterans. To assist returning soldiers avoid foreclosure, this bill lengthens the time a lender must wait before starting foreclosure from three months to nine months after a soldier returns from service and also provides returning soldiers with one year relief from increases in mortgage interest rates. In addition, the Department of Defense is required to establish a counseling program to ensure veterans and active service members can access assistance if facing financial difficulties. Also included is a provision that increases the VA loan guarantee amount, so that veterans have additional homeownership opportunities. The bill contains provisions to do the following: increase benefits paid to veterans with disabilities such as blindness for the purpose of adapting their housing; provide a moving benefit to servicemen and woman who are forced to move out of rental housing because the owner of the housing was foreclosed on; provide that veterans benefits received in a lump sum are treated the same for the purposes of eligibility for housing assistance as monthly benefits; and to allow the Veterans Administration to provide for improvements and structural alterations to homes of veterans with service-connected disabilities. "
GMAC MORTGAGE - If you have a GMAC Mortgage and are on active duty contact your lender as you may be eligible for certain rights and protections under the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act. Possible rate reduction on your mortgage during active duty plus an additional year. Possible protection from foreclosure during active duty plus an additional nine months. Call 866-961-1412.
LIHEAP - Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program 800-252-8643 Designed to help eligible households to meet the high cost of heat energy. Grants up to $500 annually for payment of gas and electric bills.
HWAP - Illinois Home Weatherization Assistance Program 800-252-8643 Designed to help eligible households conserve fuel and save money by making their home or apartment more energy efficient. One time grant that can be used for new windows, doors, possible furnance and a/c. The state determines the value of the grant based on need and funds available.
