Albany, NY – March 26, 2009 – (RealEstateRama) — DHCR Commissioner Deborah VanAmerongen was in Buffalo last week to discuss DHCR’s role in addressing the foreclosure crisis in Western New York and to kick-off the first in a series of regional meetings across the state with housing industry professionals and advocates involved in assisting homeowners under New York’s $25 million Subprime Foreclosure Prevention Program.
A press conference was held at the Frank E. Merriweather, Jr. Library in Buffalo to urge Western New York homeowners at risk of foreclosure to take advantage of the quality, free assistance made available through funding from DHCR, the New York State Banking Department, and the National Foreclosure Mitigation Counseling Program administered by NeighborWorks America.
Participants included Commissioner VanAmerongen, Kathleen Lynch of Western New York Law Center, Jean Berry of HomeFront, Inc., the Honorable Timothy Walker, NYS Supreme Court Justice, and David Gallagher, a homeowner who reached out to housing counselors and was able to keep his home.
Kathleen Lynch reminded the audience that foreclosures affect not just homeowners, but entire communities, and that the Western New York Law Center is there to help.
Mr. Gallagher told the audience about how a divorce and a disability made it difficult to pay the mortgage on the house he shared with his son. But he reached out to housing counselors trained through the program and they helped him through the process and paperwork of securing a loan modification so that he could keep his home. “There is no shame in the game,” said Gallagher. “Things happen to people and it’s not always something you can help.”
Judge Walker, who handles foreclosure proceedings, explained the new Mandatory Settlement process to the audience, encouraging those who’ve received notices of foreclosure action not to be afraid and to come to court and get the information they need to move forward.
“This is a tremendous partnership between the state and local organizations,” said Commissioner VanAmerongen. “DHCR is proud to work with a network of housing counselors and professionals across the state who are truly making a difference in people’s lives. I hope homeowners at risk of foreclosure take the first step and pick up the phone so they can get the free, quality guidance they need.”
Following the press conference, Commissioner VanAmerongen addressed the opening session of a meeting of housing professionals, including counselors trained by NeighborWorks America and legal service providers trained by Empire Justice Center, and thanked them all for their invaluable efforts.
