NK Real Estate Agent Finalist For 'Good Neighbor' Award

Becky Moniz wears her past as a Navy brat with pride, and it’s also helped inform her about the needs of military families. Recently, Moniz was recognized for her efforts on behalf of military families by being named a 2013 Good Neighbor finalist by the National Association of Realtors.

Moniz co-founded the Realtors Troop Support Task Force in Rhode Island, which has educated more than 1,300 service members about home ownership, loan modifications, refinancing scams and tax assessments. She also raised money to train teachers and guidance counselors to identify and treat deployment-related behavioral problems in children whose parents are serving overseas.

In an essay about her work, Moniz wrote:

“I remember every year going to the Navy Relief Carnival at Quonset Point. I didn’t know what it was for, just knew it was quite a bit of fun. When we went to war in Iraq/Desert Storm I realized that they had called on National Guard and Reserve soldiers. At that time there was no relief fund for Guard and Reserve. So we are taking soldiers out of civilian jobs that more than likely paid much more than their Guard and Reserve salary. Sent them to war and left the family behind to figure it out. In the meantime, pay was slow, cars and furnaces break down and the families had nowhere to turn because they didn’t have a full-blown military base anymore. Plus, no relief fund. Since then all sorts of relief funds, and 501c3’s have been set up.… Our task was to seek a way to support military families in regard to home matters.”

In 2010, Moniz got involved with the Yellow Ribbon Reintegration Events. “We realized we needed to address concerns or these families about loan modification scams, tax increases, foreclosure avoidance, rent payments, utility…etc. The list goes on,” she said. “We decided that our role was helping soldiers and their families attain, maintain and retain homes, before, during and after deployment.”

In October, five winners will be selected from among the 10 finalists to receive national media exposure and a $10,000 grant for their community cause. The five honorable mentions will receive a $2,500 grant.