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05/01/08
NeighborWorks America Strengthens Communities Through Organization
New Jersey Groups Demonstrate Anti-Foreclosure Strategy
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| Newark Mayor Cory Booker and volunteers |
Newark, New Jersey -- This week more than 270 professionals from around the country will learn how to more effectively organize their neighbors to improve their communities at the Neighborworks Training Institute (NTI) in Cincinnati, Ohio.
During the NTI, many of these professionals will also attend a full-day symposium on “Weathering the Storm: Stabilizing Communities in the Wake of Foreclosure,” where they will explore solutions to preserving neighborhoods that have become blighted by vacant or abandoned foreclosed properties.
There’s a lot being done at street level as well. Recently, Housing and Neighborhood Development Services (HANDS), a NeighborWorks network member based in Orange, New Jersey, demonstrated its community savvy by working with a coalition of non profits, community organizations and government officials in a foreclosure prevention program to root out foreclosure and mortgage scams in their neighborhoods.
More than 150 people participated in the volunteer effort in all five wards in Newark and in the City of Irvington, taking down foreclosure scam signs and distributing information about where residents can turn for responsible help. The volunteers were all wearing bright orange
t-shirts with the NeighborWorks Ad Council PSA slogan, "Nothing is Worse than Doing Nothing" on the front and the 888.995.HOPE number on the back. Over 14 different groups added their logos to the effort, sponsored by the Newark/Urban Essex Task Foreclosure Task Force.
Newark's Mayor Cory Booker applauded the group's efforts at a press conference, where he was joined by NeighborWorks America District Director Deborah Boatright, several members of the Newark Municipal Council and other community leaders.
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| NeighborWorks America District Director Deborah Boatright (right) with Pat Morrissy, executive director of HANDS (middle) and a volunteer Gail Davis (left) from the Tri-City Peoples Organization. |
Several volunteers reported that they were able to speak directly with homeowners who were struggling with payments and facing foreclosure, and who appreciated learning about the hope hotline and local counseling organizations that could help them. The press conference itself was held in front of a foreclosed home that is being rehabilitated by
Episcopal Community Development for sale as affordable housing.
NeighborWorks America provided 12,000 door hangers to support the effort, which will continue with events throughout the spring and summer, as well as arranged for the 1,000
t-shirts purchased by the County of Essex.
See the article in the Star Record on the event.
Read the full press release from the City of Newark [PDF].
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