November 18 , 2008
Contact:
Erin Angell Collins, 202-220-6317, ecollins@nw.org
Chris Harper-Fahey and Turi Daoust, 617-585-5031, cfahey@nw.org
NeighborWorks America Announces Live Foreclosure Education
Telethon on Univision Television
NeighborWorks Connects Hispanic Families with Foreclosure Help
Boston – Today NeighborWorks® America announced it has partnered with Univision Television to organize a live foreclosure education telethon, which will air on Univision affiliates WUNI-TV in Boston, Providence, R.I., and Southern, N.H.; WHTX in Springfield/Holyoke, Mass.; and WUVN in Hartford, Conn., on Wednesday, November 19, from 5:00-7:00 p.m. EST. The telethon is the latest NeighborWorks effort to reach out to Hispanic homeowners who may be in danger of foreclosure.
During the November 19 telethon bilingual foreclosure counselors from Massachusetts, Connecticut, and Rhode Island will be available to answer viewers’ questions, help callers understand their options when trying to avoid foreclosure, and refer callers to nonprofit housing counseling agencies in their geographic areas from 5:00-7:00 p.m. EST.
Alongside the telethon, an exclusive interview with NeighborWorks America’s Nelson Merced will air during the 6:00 p.m. news. Merced will discuss the national foreclosure crisis and how it is affecting Hispanic homeowners, as well as where Hispanic homeowners in danger of foreclosure can go for help.
“NeighborWorks is pleased to participate in a program where Hispanic families can get the help they need, especially during these tough financial times,” said Nelson Merced, director of National Initiatives and Applied Research at NeighborWorks America. “Nothing is worse than doing nothing when faced with foreclosure.”
NeighborWorks America and the Ad Council launched a foreclosure prevention public service announcement campaign in English and Spanish, which will air during commercial breaks during the telethon, encouraging homeowners to call 888-995-HOPE for help.
According to recent data, it is estimated that more than one million families will have faced foreclosure through 2008. One child out of every classroom in America will belong to one of these families who will lose their home because the parents are unable to pay their mortgage. Finally, three out of ten Hispanic families report having trouble paying their bills each month and about 1.7 million Hispanics report paying late or skipping a mortgage payment in the past year.
The telethon is sponsored by NeighborWorks America, the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp (FDIC), and MassHousing Finance Agency.
For more information about the upcoming telethon, please contact Chris Harper-Fahey, 617-585-5031,
cfahey@nw.org, or Erin Angell Collins, 202-220-6317,
ecollins@nw.org.
About NeighborWorks America
NeighborWorks America creates opportunities for people to improve their lives and strengthen their communities by providing access to homeownership and to safe and affordable rental housing. Since 1991, we have assisted nearly 1.2 million low- to moderate-income families with their housing needs. Much of our success is achieved through our support of the NeighborWorks network ― more than 230 community development organizations working in more than 4,400 urban, suburban and rural communities in all 50 states, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico. In the last five years, NeighborWorks organizations have generated more than $15 billion in reinvestment in these communities. NeighborWorks America is the nation’s leading trainer of community development and affordable housing professionals.
