November 9, 2017 (New Orleans) – For local resident Ms. Betty Ann Johnson keeping ownership of her family’s 1969 two-story wood frame home hasn’t been an easy road. The original structure was weak due to shoddy work and contractor fraud, but was exacerbated after Hurricane Katrina wreaked havoc with flood waters entering the home. Once retired, there wasn’t spare cash to make the necessary repairs, and she fell behind on her property taxes. “I understand the importance of paying taxes I just ran out of resources because of various challenges, said Ms. Johnson, “Today is a blessing, my home is being saved and repaired.”
For any repairs to begin on the house, Rebuild Together New Orleans required the delinquent property taxes be paid in full. On October 26th from a most unlikely source, Ms. Betty’s prayers were answered. The NTLA Foundation, a non-profit who saves elderly or disabled homeowners from property tax foreclosure, paid the delinquent taxes. Beyond saving Ms. Betty’s homeownership, volunteers from the NTLA Foundation, CivicSource and Rebuild Together New Orleans spent a day of service painting, removing moldy drywall, and prepping the home for a new roof. Collectively, they raised over $20,000 to make the necessary repairs.
“The NTLA Foundation was formed to help the elderly and disabled avoid property tax foreclosure by paying off their back taxes,” said NTLA’s Executive Director Brad Westover. “We can’t solve all the world’s problems, but it sure feels great to save the homes of some wonderful people in need.”
Recipient applications are available to members of the National Tax Lien Association or through Tax Collectors and Treasurers from the 30 states that sell delinquent taxes to the private sector.
The National Tax Lien Association (NTLA) was founded in 1997 as a nonprofit professional trade organization for the tax lien industry. It is dedicated to representing the interest of local governments, investors, lenders and service providers in regard to tax lien sales, as well as promoting the benefit of those sales as reliable income for municipal, county, and some state budgets. The NTLA also provides networking and training for those in the tax lien industry. More information on the association can be found at www.ntla.org or ntlafoundation.org
Article originally published here: https://globenewswire.com/news-release/2017/11/15/1193609/0/en/Facing-eviction-New-Orleans-Resident-gets-unprecedented-offer-to-save-her-home.html