New York, NY – August 13, 2009 – (RealEstateRama) — New York City Comptroller William C. Thompson, Jr. today announced that nearly 5,000 individuals and families have called his Foreclosure Prevention Helpline to ask for help to avoid losing their homes.
“More than two years ago, my office began the Foreclosure Prevention Helpline, assisting thousands of families and individuals who are facing the risk of foreclosures,” Thompson said. “During these difficult times, as companies and Wall Street are struggling, we must not forget about the families who find themselves in need of help as they are struggling to pay their mortgages.”
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 July 31, 2009, the Helpline has received more than 4,815 calls, and 2,614 cases currently have been opened as a result. A breakdown of those cases by borough follows:
Queens 865 33.09%
Brooklyn 689 26.36%
Bronx 476 18.21%
Staten Island 162 06.20%
Manhattan 47 01.80%
Outside NYC 375 14.34%
TOTAL 2,614 100%
Since launching 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) received in-depth training on how to handle foreclosure cases, and monitor each case to ensure help is provided.
Thompson also has published a Foreclosure Prevention Guide. The guide provides necessary information about mortgages, how to avoid foreclosures, and foreclosure prevention counseling services. Both the guide and a television ad are available at www.comptroller.nyc.gov.
