Genesee County, Michigan Homeowners Get Free Help to Avoid Foreclosure — $190,000 in New Grants

If you own a home in Genesee County, Michigan and you are struggling to pay your property taxes, free help is available right now. The Rocket Community Fund has awarded $190,000 in new grants to expand homeowner property tax exemption assistance — and it could help you keep your home.

What Is This Program?

The funding supports the HOPE (Homeowners Property Exemption) program, which allows qualifying low-income homeowners to reduce or eliminate their property tax bill. Many homeowners who qualify have never applied — often because the paperwork is confusing or they did not know they were eligible.

This funding pays for trained housing counselors who will sit with you and walk through the entire application, step by step, at no cost to you.

"It can be really overwhelming to do these applications by yourself," said Beth Sorce, Senior Director of Housing Stability at Rocket Community Fund. "The housing counselors will tell you what documents you need, what you don't need."

How the $190,000 Is Being Distributed

• $100,000 to the Genesee County Treasurer's Office for outreach, application assistance, and housing counseling
• $90,000 to Legal Services of Eastern Michigan for direct help to qualifying homeowners

Who Can Get Help?

This assistance is for Genesee County homeowners who:

• Own and live in their home as their primary residence
• Are behind on property taxes or at risk of foreclosure
• May qualify for the HOPE property tax exemption based on income

The City of Flint also has a homeowner rescue program for residents within city limits.

Why This Matters

Last year, Genesee County reduced potential foreclosures from roughly 1,500 to under 700. This new funding adds another tool to keep families in their homes. As County Treasurer Sam Muma put it: "We didn't have this tool last year, so we're hoping it continues to keep people in their homes."

How to Get Help

Contact the Genesee County Treasurer's Office at (810) 257-3054 or reach out to Legal Services of Eastern Michigan at (810) 234-2621. Ask about the HOPE property tax exemption and the new housing counseling assistance. You can also visit in person at the county offices in Flint.

Bottom Line

If you own a home in Genesee County and have unpaid property taxes, do not wait for a foreclosure notice. Free counselors are available now to help you apply for tax relief at no cost to you — and the stakes could not be higher.