Marietta Rodriguez, president and CEO of NeighborWorks America, believes nothing is worse than doing nothing. That was the theme of a NeighborWorks campaign during the housing crisis of 2008. At the time, Rodriguez was NeighborWorks' vice president of National Homeownership and Lending Programs. Now at the helm of the organization, Rodriguez spent the week of Sept. 15 – the anniversary of the day Lehman Brothers filed for bankruptcy in 2008 – sharing lessons from that period. She continues to share those lessons, which follow, in her own words:

Training isn't just a way to keep certifications current; it's a way to keep knowledge current. And as current events continue to create moving targets for affordable housing and community development professionals – with eviction moratoriums, unemployment, rental relief, and a kaleidoscope of grants and programs – housing counselors, educators and trainers need to keep up.

Americans are facing unprecedented challenges due to COVID-19. Even with some HUD-approved housing counseling agencies shuttered or operating at reduced capacity, counselors can still help clients stabilize their housing. Telephone and virtual counseling can be added to the agencies' service delivery model.

During this time of crisis, remote counseling supports social distancing practices. The physically impaired, immuno-suppressed, seniors, and those who either prefer not to or cannot commute have much to gain.

A good budget can help when the unexpected occurs. But when you suddenly lose income, as many families have in recent months, a budget becomes even more important.

"Budgets change all the time," says Molly Barackman-Eder, senior manager in financial capability at NeighborWorks America. "If you've had a change in income, this is a good time to think about a budget as an organizing tool."

NeighborWorks network organizations say they are continuing to hear from residents interested in doing the financial education and credit repair that will help them on a path to buying new homes. But even before March turned to April, housing counselors say they were also receiving calls from residents who were worried about what was going to happen if. If they lost jobs. If they couldn't pay their rent or their mortgage as the COVID-19 virus forced businesses to shut down or scale back.

Some tax preparers call it "the big money moment." They're talking about the time of year when consumers receive their tax refunds. The lump sum, especially if the individual qualifies for the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC), is often the largest payment they'll get all year long, says Molly Barackman-Eder, senior manager for financial capability at NeighborWorks America.

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