Berrien County Treasurer Bret Witkowski looking back on the first year of his office’s Hopeful Home Fund as a success. He says the fund was started after donations poured in to pay off the property taxes of an 88-year-old Niles woman who had faced foreclosure. When her story got around in the media, Witkowski says he heard from many people who would want to help in that kind of situation.
“The idea was floated out there,” Witkowski said. “‘Hey, have you ever thought about setting a fund up where people could donate?’”
Witkowski says the Hopeful Home Fund was set up through the United Way of Southwest Michigan to pay off the property taxes of those who are struggling.
“Earlier this year, Shannon O’Brien out of Lincoln Township, who has cancer and has been fighting that with triplets, was the first recipient, and there are a couple people who I would earmark probably for next year if we’re able to collect enough funds to be able to help out.”
Witkowski says Shannon is now back at work and most of her back taxes are paid off. He notes there are many in Berrien County with similar struggles, telling us around 3,600 property owners are behind on taxes, often due to medical bills. That’s why Witkowski encourages people to donate to the Hopeful Home Fund through the United Way, noting all donations are tax deductible.
