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05/31/08
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| Faith-based and civic leaders are trained in foreclosure prevention. |
Trenton, NJ — Close to 100 Trenton faith based and civic leaders ventured out on a stormy Saturday to learn how they could help their fellow Trenton residents to combat foreclosure. The train-the-trainer event, conducted in English and Spanish by NeighborWorks America and local foreclosure experts, educated leaders about the scope of the problem, the alternatives to foreclosure, and resources available to assist homeowners.
Organized along the themes "Know The Signs You Can Trust" and "There is no shame in trying to save your homes," the program emphasized the importance of linking homeowners at risk with qualified nonprofit foreclosure housing counselors and how to recognize foreclosure rescue scams.
“New Jersey is 14th in the nation in foreclosures – one in 37 New Jersey homeowners will face foreclosure,” said Susan Jouard, communications and public affairs specialist for NeighborWorks America’s Northeast District. “Yet, the data show more than half of homeowners in foreclosure don’t even know that they can speak with a counselor."
A press conferernce with Mayor Douglas Palmer following the event outlined an aggressive faith-based outreach effort to help homeowners know the options available to them. The effort, conducted in partnership with Trenton's clergy during Homeownership Month, urges residents to seek help with their mortgage problems. Four of the area's leading pastors attended and pledged their support. The City is encouraging clergy throughout the city to mark "Mortgage Sundays" with sermons andbroad distribution of foreclosure prevention information.
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| Mayor Douglas Palmer Addresses NeighborWorks foreclosure prevention ad campaign postcards. |
“This is a national crisis, with as many as 2 million Americans projected to lose their homes this year,” Mayor Palmer told the gathering. “Our response must include timely intervention, trustworthy information, and support at every level from Washington to the four wards of Trenton. I commended our task force and the volunteers who have stepped forward from our faith-based and civic organizations to help carry the message to homeowners, that there is no shame in trying to save your home – and that counseling help is available.”
Mayor Palmer and the pastors joined the group afterwards to address more than 2,400 NeighborWorks foreclosure prevention ad campaignpostcards that will be sent to residents in target areas hard hit by foreclosure.
The NeighborWorks Center for Foreclosure Solutions, in partnership with over 200 local organizations around the country, and the Ad Council, developed a national public awareness campaign. The campaign ads include TV, radio, print, billboards, and web with the tagline ‘Nothing is Worse than Doing Nothing.’ The ads encourage homeowners to call the Homeownership Preservation Foundation hotline at 888-995-HOPE when they fall behind on their mortgages.
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