Who We Serve

​Property tax help is available for homeowners in the following counties:
  • Bay
  • Clare
  • Gladwin
  • Mecosta
  • Midland
  • Muskegon
  • Oceana
  • Osceola
 
We work with homeowners who:
  • Are behind on property taxes
  • Have received tax notices from the county
  • Are worried about possible tax foreclosure
  • Have questions on assessments or other expenses on tax bills
 
If you own your home in one of these counties and are worried about taxes, we encourage you to reach out. If you live outside these counties, you can still reach out. We may be able to connect you with a program for your area.

How We Help

​Our Resource Navigators and HUD-Certified Housing Counselors work together to help you:
  • Review your property tax bill and any letters from the county
  • Understand the tax timeline and important deadlines
  • Talk through your income, expenses, and goals
  • Explore options that may help, such as payment plans, hardship programs, or other supports
  • Connect you with other local resources that may help with past-due taxes
  • Help you make a plan to stay current going forward
 
In some situations, our property tax program may be able to help with a portion of past-due taxes. There is never a guarantee of financial assistance, but we can always help you understand your options and make a plan.

What to Expect

​When you connect with us, you will usually talk first with a staff person at your local Community Action Center. They may:
  • Ask a few questions about your home, your county, and your tax situation
  • Help you gather the paperwork you’ll need (like tax bills or county notices)
  • Connect you with a HUD-Certified Housing Counselor
 
From there, you may:
  • Complete an application for property tax assistance (if a program is available for your situation)
  • Talk with a Housing Counselor about your budget and long-term plan to stay current
  • Learn about other programs that may help with utilities, food, or other basic needs
 
Our goal is to help you understand where you stand, what deadlines are coming up, and what steps may help you move forward.
 
Every county has its own process and deadlines. We will help you sort out what applies to you.

How to Get Started

To ask about property tax help, call or text the office nearest you:
• ​Bay City: 989-894-9060
• ​Big Rapids: 231-660-0271
• ​Farwell: 989-386-3805
• ​Gladwin: 989-426-2801
• ​Hart: 231-923-3066
• ​Midland: 989-832-7377
• ​Muskegon: 231-557-7622
• ​Reed City: 231-791-7078

You can also email us at [email protected]
 
When you call, text, or email, it helps if you can share:
  • That you’re asking about property tax help
  • What county you live in
 
Our staff will connect you with staff for your area. Someone will follow up to talk through your situation and next steps.

Important Notes

​Through this program, we:
  • May be able to help with a portion of past-due taxes, depending on available funding and eligibility
  • Cannot guarantee that foreclosure will be prevented in every case
  • Cannot promise that a particular option (like a payment plan or hardship program) will be approved
  • Cannot provide legal advice or represent you in court
 
We can walk alongside you, explain your options in clear language, and help you take the next step.
 
If you are very close to a tax deadline, please reach out as soon as you can. It is always better to talk before a deadline passes.

More Support

Housing Counseling
Our HUD-certified housing counselors offer free, confidential help with renting, buying a home, mortgage or property tax concerns, and building a budget that works for you. They explain your options in plain language so you can make informed decisions about your housing and money.
Financial Capability Workshops
Our HUD-Certified Housing Counselors offer free virtual workshops on topics like credit, debt, foreclosure prevention, renting, and preparing to buy a home. Workshops are open to anyone and are designed to make money and housing decisions easier to understand and act on.
Homebuyer Education
Homebuyer education helps you get ready to buy a home with confidence. Our HUD-certified housing counselors walk you through your budget, credit, and each step of the homebuying process, from getting ready to buy through closing and beyond.
​Foreclosure Prevention
Our HUD-certified Housing Counselors can help you understand letters about mortgage or property tax foreclosure, talk through your options, and make a plan to try to keep your home when possible. They’ll walk alongside you, explain next steps in clear language, and connect you with other resources that may help.