Nearly 5,000 Homeowners Call Comptroller’s Foreclosure Prevention Helpline

December 17, 2009

by Comptroller William C. Thompson

New York, NY – December 17, 2009 – (RealEstateRama) — New York City Comptroller William C. Thompson, Jr. today announced that his office is closing in on more than 5,000 individuals and families who have called his Foreclosure Prevention Helpline to ask for help and guidance to avoid losing their homes.

“More than two years ago, my office began the Foreclosure Prevention Helpline aimed at assisting families and individuals who are facing the risk of foreclosures,” Thompson said. “As this recession has progressed we have seen the human toll it has taken on our friends, families and neighbors. The foreclosure crisis was what helped push our country into this recession and it was my goal to provide whatever assistance we could to keep New Yorkers in their homes.”

For the past two years, Thompson has been working to help New Yorkers acquire the financial skills they need to address the threat of foreclosure by launching the Helpline at (212) 669-4600. As of December 16, 2009, the Helpline has received 4,980 calls, resulting in 2,689 cases being opened. A breakdown of those cases follows:

QUEENS	899	33.43%
BROOKLYN	705	26.22%
BRONX	488	18.15%
STATEN ISLAND	164	06.10%
MANHATTAN	50	01.86%
OUTSIDE NYC	383	14.24%

TOTAL	2,689	100%

Launched on April 26, 2007, the Helpline links callers with United States Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) certified counselors in their specific neighborhoods. Along with offering the Helpline, members of the Comptroller’s Community Action Center (CAC) completed all required courses and are certified foreclosure intervention counselors who provide counseling and help homeowners negotiate viable workout packages with their respective lenders.

In addition to the helpline, Comptroller Thompson has held foreclosure prevention clinics throughout the City. These events are free and provide homeowners the opportunity to meet with their respective mortgage lender/servicer’s representative one-on-one in an effort to reach solution and avoid foreclosure. If an attendee’s servicer is not present at the event, the Comptroller’s Office conducts outreach on behalf of that individual to facilitate communications between the two parties.

In addition, trained staffers from the Comptroller’s Office, non-profit groups, and legal service organizations also attend to offer advice to attendees.

Thompson has published a Foreclosure Prevention Guide. The guide provides necessary information about mortgages, how to avoid foreclosures, and foreclosure prevention counseling services. The guide is available at www.comptroller.nyc.gov
“While many will say that the recession is abating, there are still large numbers of New Yorkers who are in danger of losing the roof over their heads,” Thompson said. “While many have taken advantage of the free assistance provided by my helpline, there are others who have yet to do so. I urge anyone who may be facing foreclosure to pick up the phone and get the help they deserve.”

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New York City Comptroller’s Office press (at) comptroller.nyc (dot) gov / Main: (212) 669-3747 / Fax: (212) 669-8879