The Tallahassee Lenders’ Consortium has been helping community members navigate through financial hardships and into successful homeownership since 1993.
Mission
To provide client-focused comprehensive housing services and to promote and engage in resident-driven neighborhood revitalization.
History
The Tallahassee Lenders’ Consortium, Inc. (TLC), a Florida-based 501(c) 3 nonprofit organization, was established in November 1993 by ten local financial institutions and the City of Tallahassee. These groups came together in response to rising costs of rental housing in the local area. The goal was to create a program that would provide first-time homebuyers with funds to be used for closing costs and down payment assistance. This needs-based assistance was provided as a zero-percent interest rate loan, due upon maturity of the original mortgage. TLC would operate as an Instrumentality of Government for the purpose of processing and packaging these loans for the City of Tallahassee and its lending partners.
In 2004, TLC became a HUD approved housing counseling agency, expanding services to include pre-purchase, foreclosure intervention, budgeting, and reverse mortgage counseling. As the need for first-time home buyer education grew, the agency developed a home-purchase workshop focused on the process of buying a home. In collaboration with community partners, clients learned about real estate contracts, the pre-approval process, home inspection, property taxes and many other topics to prepare them for home ownership.
As TLC evolved, so did its interest in networking. Members of the agency learned about NeighborWorks America and the impact the organization had on neighborhoods across the nation. However, before becoming a network member, TLC would undergo a rigorous application, review, and training process. In 2014, TLC was recognized as a member of NeighborWorks America. In later years, TLC joined the Congressionally Chartered National NeighborWorks Association as a Chartered Member.
In November 2023, TLC celebrated a milestone 30-Year anniversary with a community Backyard BBQ and a Block Party to say thank you for allowing us to serve. Keeping with the celebration and accomplishment, TLC hosted a semi-formal Celebration with The Stars in February 2024.
TLC’s greatest impact is empowering low-to-moderate income families with the knowledge to navigate through financial hardships. Our outcomes can be measured by the many families who were successful in buying a home. Hundreds of homebuyers have been created, and thousands more educated throughout the community.