Thomas McConnell didn’t know what to do when the heating and air conditioning quit working in his North Brainerd home last year.
His disability retirement from U.S. Pipe & Foundry Co. didn’t give him enough to pay for the repairs. He was in danger of falling further behind in his mortgage payments and possibly losing the home where he has lived for the past 32 years.
Unbeknownst to the 71-yearold homeowner, he had somehow missed a mortgage payment a couple of years ago. The accumulating interest and penalties from the late payment threatened to put Mr. McConnell two months behind on his mortgage – and possibly subject to foreclosure.
At the urging of his niece, Mr. McConnell reached out to Chattanooga Neighborhood Enterprise, a government-backed housing agency that helped Mr. McConnell keep and fix up his house.
“We’re getting by, but I couldn’t have done it without CNE,” Mr. McConnell said, pointing to the new siding, roof and porch installed on his Nantena Drive home.