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I can haz phone-a-thon!
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Greater Cincinnati has been very good at taking care of its own during the home foreclosure crisis.
Now, the federal government is lending a hand that will make the effort even stronger.
The U.S. Department of the Treasury as well as Housing and Urban Development (HUD) have signed on as full partners for the third Foreclosure Prevention Phone-A-Thon to be held October 14 – 16 in CET’s West End public television studio.
"It’s a great opportunity for the homeowner of Greater Cincinnati," said Rick Williams, president of the Home Ownership Center of Greater Cincinnati.
This will be the third phone-a-thon sponsored by the Home Ownership Center, Legal Aid Society, WCPO-TV and CET, among others.
The first event in 2008 generated 1,800 calls for help.
Over 3,300 cases were opened during the February, 2009 phone-a-thon and more are expected this year. Consequently, the number of phone bank operators is being increased from 10 to 75 to handle the volume of calls.
That’s not the only change.
"Additionally, this partnership with the U.S. Treasury and Making Homes Affordable gives us lenders coming to Cincinnati, which cuts the process from between six and nine months to 30 days," Williams added.
Callers to 1-877-7BUZZUS will have a case file opened with certified housing counselors.
Then a face-to-face appointment will be set up with the caller’s lender to try and modify the mortgage or refinance the loan.
During a Foreclosure Prevention Phone-A-Thon kickoff news conference this Friday, Rosie Rios, the Treasurer of the United States, praised the effort and said it’s being reviewed as a possible model for the rest of the country.
"We’re certainly open to new ideas," she said. "This one seems to be working."
Rios has a background in community development and said the foreclosure problem can be devastating for families and communities.
"Home preservation, working with disadvantaged areas, working with people to save their homes – is something that’s very personal to me," the Treasurer said. "We all think of home investment as our future and so when you take that away, or it’s in danger, I think we’re all in danger of losing what’s most dear to us."
Charles York, of Norwood, knows that feeling. He almost lost his house, but saved it thanks to Working In Neighborhoods (WIN) and the Home Ownership Center.
Trouble began for York when he had to pay $4,000 to fix a major plumbing problem in his yard. That meant delaying his mortgage payment and skipping the electric bill. That led to his power being cut off and his lender filing for foreclosure.
York said he tried to work things out with Ocwen Mortgage.
"The way they resolve it is giving you a forbearance agreement, which raises your payments even more," he said in his darkened living room Friday. "If you were having trouble with the original amount, you’re really having trouble then."
When Ocwen officials recommended that York find a HUD-approved housing agency, he called WIN.
WIN’s caseworkers recommended the Home Ownership Center. Housing counselor Tiffany Gennel was assigned to his case.
Gennel was able to help York get a new 30-year fixed-rate mortgage that lowered his monthly payment from $1,007 to $862.
"The main thing they do is give you hope," York said, while preparing to leave for his second-shift job as a machinist for Metro Container. "I’m so grateful to Working In Neighborhoods and the Home Ownership Center."
"If there’s any one on my Christmas list, it’s my counselor," York added, noting that he’s determined to pay off the plumbing bill and get the electricity back on by the end of the year.
A call to 1-877-7BUZZUS could help make the days brighter for lots of Greater Cincinnati homeowners who are facing foreclosure, but thinking there’s nowhere to turn for help.
Copyright 2009 The E.W. Scripps Co. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Now, the federal government is lending a hand that will make the effort even stronger.
The U.S. Department of the Treasury as well as Housing and Urban Development (HUD) have signed on as full partners for the third Foreclosure Prevention Phone-A-Thon to be held October 14 – 16 in CET’s West End public television studio.
"It’s a great opportunity for the homeowner of Greater Cincinnati," said Rick Williams, president of the Home Ownership Center of Greater Cincinnati.
This will be the third phone-a-thon sponsored by the Home Ownership Center, Legal Aid Society, WCPO-TV and CET, among others.
The first event in 2008 generated 1,800 calls for help.
Over 3,300 cases were opened during the February, 2009 phone-a-thon and more are expected this year. Consequently, the number of phone bank operators is being increased from 10 to 75 to handle the volume of calls.
That’s not the only change.
"Additionally, this partnership with the U.S. Treasury and Making Homes Affordable gives us lenders coming to Cincinnati, which cuts the process from between six and nine months to 30 days," Williams added.
Callers to 1-877-7BUZZUS will have a case file opened with certified housing counselors.
Then a face-to-face appointment will be set up with the caller’s lender to try and modify the mortgage or refinance the loan.
During a Foreclosure Prevention Phone-A-Thon kickoff news conference this Friday, Rosie Rios, the Treasurer of the United States, praised the effort and said it’s being reviewed as a possible model for the rest of the country.
"We’re certainly open to new ideas," she said. "This one seems to be working."
Rios has a background in community development and said the foreclosure problem can be devastating for families and communities.
"Home preservation, working with disadvantaged areas, working with people to save their homes – is something that’s very personal to me," the Treasurer said. "We all think of home investment as our future and so when you take that away, or it’s in danger, I think we’re all in danger of losing what’s most dear to us."
Charles York, of Norwood, knows that feeling. He almost lost his house, but saved it thanks to Working In Neighborhoods (WIN) and the Home Ownership Center.
Trouble began for York when he had to pay $4,000 to fix a major plumbing problem in his yard. That meant delaying his mortgage payment and skipping the electric bill. That led to his power being cut off and his lender filing for foreclosure.
York said he tried to work things out with Ocwen Mortgage.
"The way they resolve it is giving you a forbearance agreement, which raises your payments even more," he said in his darkened living room Friday. "If you were having trouble with the original amount, you’re really having trouble then."
When Ocwen officials recommended that York find a HUD-approved housing agency, he called WIN.
WIN’s caseworkers recommended the Home Ownership Center. Housing counselor Tiffany Gennel was assigned to his case.
Gennel was able to help York get a new 30-year fixed-rate mortgage that lowered his monthly payment from $1,007 to $862.
"The main thing they do is give you hope," York said, while preparing to leave for his second-shift job as a machinist for Metro Container. "I’m so grateful to Working In Neighborhoods and the Home Ownership Center."
"If there’s any one on my Christmas list, it’s my counselor," York added, noting that he’s determined to pay off the plumbing bill and get the electricity back on by the end of the year.
A call to 1-877-7BUZZUS could help make the days brighter for lots of Greater Cincinnati homeowners who are facing foreclosure, but thinking there’s nowhere to turn for help.
Copyright 2009 The E.W. Scripps Co. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.