Privacy Policy | Origin SC

FRAUD POLICY

Family Services, Inc. DBA Origin SC (the Company) is committed to preventing, identifying, and reporting any fraudulent activity related to the Company’s services, activities, and administration of grants. Fraud may include but is not limited to false statements provided by or by the staff, contractors, clients, beneficiaries, and stakeholders. Fraudulent activities may include but are not limited to knowingly misrepresenting income or expenses, assisting or counseling anyone to misrepresent facts or circumstances related to eligibility for programs or benefits, bribery, kickbacks, theft or embezzlement, forgery or alteration of documents, destruction, or concealment of records, profiting from insider knowledge, or a conflict of interest. The Company will investigate any reports of fraud. The Company reserves the right to involve law enforcement authorities in its investigation. Any documented fraudulent activity may result in administrative or criminal action being taken against those involved including termination from any program sponsored by the Company or termination from employment by the Company. The Company will not retaliate against any party who reports fraud, criminal activities, or other program irregularities. Any suspected fraudulent activity should be reported to the Company’s currently appointed Risk Manager with sufficient specificity to facilitate an investigation.

PRIVACY POLICY

Our agency is committed to assuring the privacy of individuals and/or families who have contacted us for assistance. We realize that the concerns you bring us are highly personal in nature. We assure you that all information shared both orally and in writing will be managed within legal and ethical considerations. The following are examples of how this data may be used:

ALL CLIENTS

To assist us in our work with you, our staff may seek supervision/consultation with professional colleagues within the agency and, where appropriate and necessary, with other resources in the community.
For the purpose of evaluating our services, gathering valuable research information and designing future programs, we may report case file information to various grantors and stakeholders.

COUNSELING ONLY

For counseling only clients, we will confirm with your creditors if asked:
1. Verification of appointment
2. Date of counseling
3. Disposition: i.e.,
  - Client will handle affairs on their own
  - Pending action

MORTGAGE DEFAULT/DEBT MANAGEMENT/RENTAL COUNSELING

For clients needing our intervention on your behalf through Mortgage Default, Debt Management, or rental counseling we may disclose the following information to your lender/creditors:

Your address and home phone number, if published
Total debt information
Income, net and gross
Living expenses
A list of your creditors
Personal information concerning your financial circumstances, but not lifestyle or personal habits
Place of employment will be verified only

We collect nonpublic personal information about you from the following sources:

Information we received from you on our applications or other forms you provide
Information about your transactions with us, your creditors, or others, and
Information we receive from a credit reporting agency

In all other situations, your information may be released to appropriate individuals or agencies ONLY UPON YOUR SIGNATURE BELOW PERMITTING US TO DO SO, OR when our staff has been served by a valid subpoena.

The following PRIVACY POLICIES detail circumstances under which we will release your information to a third party:

We may disclose some or all the information that we collect, as described below, to creditors, or third parties who need this information in order for us to assist you after a counseling session. Information includes but is not limited to:

Information we receive from your applications or other forms, such as your name, address, social security number, assets, and income
Information about your transactions with us, your creditors, or others, such as your account balance, payment history, parties to transactions and credit card usage
Information we receive from a credit reporting agency, such as your credit history

We may disclose all the information that we collect, as described above, to creditors and related financial institutions who need this information in order to put you on a debt management plan (DMP) or mortgage workout.
We restrict access to nonpublic personal information about you to those employees who need to know that information to provide services to you. We maintain physical, electronic, and procedural safeguards that comply with federal regulations to guard your nonpublic personal information. However, several of our grantors require that we provide some nonpublic information about you in order to provide proof of counseling services provided and outcomes achieved.
Unless earlier revoked by client, this authorization will expire when counseling services have ended and file is closed in our system. However, I/We give permission to ORIGIN, their grantors/stakeholders, and their representative agents to follow-up with me as necessary for purposes of program compliance and/or evaluation.
I understand Origin receives congressional funds through the Housing Stability Counseling Program (HSCP) for some services to be provided and as such is required to share some of my information with HSCP admin or agents for compliance.

HUD HOUSING COUNSELING & EDUCATION SERVICES

Origin SC offers both one-on-one and group education services as a part of our HUD Housing Counseling program:

One-on-One Housing Counseling Services Offered – all available in-person, by telephone, or virtual (via Zoom) and include detailed financial analysis and individualized action plan developed by a HUD-Certified Housing Counselor:

Financial Management/Budget Counseling: Sessions typically are 1.5 to 2 hours and are designed to help individuals and households learn and understand basic money management and credit skills to achieve financial stability.

Mortgage Delinquency & Default Counseling: Sessions typically last 1.5 to 2 hours and are designed to help individuals and households facing mortgage default and/or foreclosure.

Pre-Purchase Counseling: Sessions typically last 2 hours and provide individualized, comprehensive counseling and support for individuals and households to identify barriers to homeownership and create strategies to purchase a home.

Rental & Homeless Housing Counseling: Sessions typically last 1.5 to 2 hours and are designed for individuals and households to assist in maintaining or locating permanent and affordable rental housing to achieve housing stability.

Reverse Mortgage Counseling: Sessions typically last 1.5 to 2 hours and are designed for seniors who are seeking a Reverse Mortgage to understand how reverse mortgages work, potential benefits and drawbacks, and if a reverse mortgage is right for their unique financial situation.

Group Education Services Offered:

Financial, Budgeting, and Credit Improvement Workshops:

Credit Improvement/Making Ends Meet/Financial Literacy: 2-hour workshop focusing on basics of credit reports and scores, steps to improving credit, developing and balancing a budget, avoiding predatory lending, and basic money management skills for long-term financial stability.
Intro to Homeownership: 2-hour introductory workshop focusing on the homebuying process, what mortgage products are available and the mortgage application process, selecting a real estate agent, homeowners’ insurance, downpayment and closing cost assistance programs. This course is designed as an introduction to the process and does not meet lender homebuyer education requirements.

Pre-Purchase Homebuyer Education: (currently only offered online via eHome America) This 8-hour course often includes presentations from mortgage lenders, real estate agents, closing attorneys, and home inspectors educating participants on each important part of the homebuying process. Participants also learn about different types of down payment assistance grants/loans, the mortgage loan types available, and how to avoid predatory lending and related homebuying scams.

By signing below, I/we agree that I/we have read and understand the Origin Privacy Policy and understand my nonpublic information may be released to appropriate individuals or agencies as necessary to assist me.

AFFILIATED BUSINESS ARRANGEMENT DISCLOSURE

Origin Realty, Inc. is a for-profit wholly owned subsidiary of Origin. Additionally, Origin, a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization, has several nonprofit divisions doing business as Financial Education & Coaching (FEC), Homeownership Promotion & Preservation (HPP), Family Violence Intervention (FVIP), Housing Stability, and Conservator Services. Origin Realty, Inc. provides real estate brokerage services for which it and its licensed real estate agents typically earn a commission. Origin SC provides various counseling, granting, lending and educational services for free or for cost-of-service fees.

Set forth below is the estimated charge or range of charges for the settlement services listed. Origin will NOT require you to use the services of Origin Realty or any affiliates as a condition for its services.

Origin Realty, Inc. will NOT require you to use the services of Origin SC as a condition of its brokerage services. THERE ARE FREQUENTLY OTHER SETTLEMENT SERVICE PROVIDERS AVAILABLE WITH SIMILAR SERVICES. YOU ARE FREE TO SHOP AROUND TO DETERMINE THAT YOU ARE RECEIVING THE BEST SERVICES AND THE BEST RATE FOR THESE SERVICES.

Provider/Partner	Settlement Service	Charge or Range of Charges
Origin SC- Homeownership Dept.	Homebuyer Education and Counseling One-on-One Counseling	$0 to $158 paid for at time of initial counseling
Origin SC- Homeownership Dept.	Credit and Financial Counseling	Free or max monthly $40
Origin SC - Housing Stability & Conservator Dept.	-	Free per court and government approved sliding scale
Origin SC - Family Violence Intervention Dept.	Anger Mgmt., Domestic Violence Counseling	$0 to $85 per session
Origin SC – Lending Dept.	Mortgage Lending	Legally allowed fees and/or interest. All loans must pass High-Cost Mortgage Testing
Origin SC – Lending Dept./First Citizens (FC)	Loan Servicing	No charge to borrower for servicing. If payment is more than 15 days late, charge will be $25 fee added to the loan payment amount past due
Origin SC – Lending Dept./NeighborWorks America	Ref: NeighborhoodLIFT Approved Lenders List	$0 to $285 paid at closing, 0% interest forgivable loans
Origin Realty	Real Estate Brokerage	Real Estate Sales Commission and or fees
Origin Realty	Real Estate Brokerage	Administration fee up to $350
Neighborhood Revitalization LLC	Development	Buyer’s purchase price
Mount Pleasance Housing for All (HFA)	Application processing	No charge to the borrower. HFA will be invoiced $110 for each session.

FEE WAIVER POLICY

The agency’s policy regarding the availability of services for free or at a reduced rate based on a client’s ability to pay: Origin SC makes our services available to consumers who are experiencing financial difficulties. Counseling is provided to all persons regardless of religion, sex, race, national origin, or the ability to pay, etc. For all households that are at/or below 150% of the Federal Poverty Guidelines published by the US Department of Health & Human Services (DHHS) are eligible for a fee waiver or fee reduction. This determination will be made by the bankruptcy coordinator when household income and size are provided on our Counseling Application. During the follow up or counseling appointment, the coordinator will notify those who are eligible, and clients will have to provide income documentation to the bankruptcy coordinator, such as Social Security award letters, pay stubs, tax returns, etc.

I/We give permission to Origin Realty, Inc. to provide a copy of my/our HUD closing statement to Origin for statistical reporting purposes.

I/we have read this Disclosure, and understand that if Origin Realty, Inc. is referring me/us to Origin and/or if Origin is referring me/us to Origin Realty Inc. to purchase the above-described settlement service(s) and they may receive a financial or other benefit as the result of this referral.

I understand that a copy of the Origin, privacy policy will be made available to me for viewing upon request.

The Affiliated Business Arrangement Disclosure portion of this form is prepared and provided in compliance RESPA Section 8(c)(4). If you have questions or concerns you may direct them to: Caprice Atterbury, Origin 8084 Rivers Ave, Suite 100, N. Charleston, SC, 29406 Phone: 843 628 5004.

By signing below, I/we agree that I/we have read, understand, and agree to all contract provisions, authorizations and disclosures listed above (page 1 and page 2).

Applicant Signature: _________________________________________ Date: _____________________________________

Co-Applicant Signature: _______________________________________ Date: _____________________________________