News Release

April 30 , 2012

Contact: Lindsay Moore, lmoore@nw.org, 202 220-6317

NeighborWorks America Urges Continued Momentum to the Thousands of Consumers Who Took Advantage of National Financial Literacy Month

NeighborWorks Network of More Than 235 Community Development Organizations Serves as Trusted Resource to Consumers, Provided Thousands with Financial Literacy Education

Washington, DC – Today, as National Financial Literacy Month draws to a close, NeighborWorks America urged consumers to continue the progress and learning of April. NeighborWorks marked National Financial Literacy Month by providing homeownership education as well as counseling services to renters and potential and current homeowners nationwide and encouraged them to take control of their finances and thus move towards a stronger economic future.

NeighborWorks America, one of the country's leading community development corporations, supports a network of more than 235 nonprofits located in every state, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico that offer free and low-cost advisory services to thousands of individuals and families. Services include pre-and post-homebuyer education and counseling, loan origination and brokering, affordability assistance, retention of homeownership through home repair services and responsible refinancing, foreclosure intervention and solutions.

"The economy is growing, but there still are many people trying to understand if this is the right time to invest in homeownership or wondering how to establish a realistic budget that will help them manage these tough financial times," said NeighborWorks America CEO Eileen Fitzgerald. "During National Financial Literacy Month but importantly, throughout the year, we believe that the best first step is to contact a nonprofit homeownership advisor or nonprofit financial coach. These trained professionals will help consumers develop an individualized homeownership plan or establish a set of appropriate financial capability goals."

For nearly thirty-five years, NeighborWorks America has helped its member organizations bridge the affordability gap for renters and potential and current homeowners – leveraging NeighborWorks capital funds, local and private down-payment assistance and flexible second mortgages to help low- and moderate-income homebuyers choose, buy, and remain in homes they can afford.

To learn more about preparing for homeownership and long-term financial success, go to www.nw.org. To find a local NeighborWorks organization near you, you can go to the network look-up button.

About NeighborWorks America
NeighborWorksAmerica creates opportunities for people to improve their lives and strengthen their communities by providing access to homeownership and to safe and affordable rental housing. In the last five years, NeighborWorks organizations have generated more than $19.5 billion in reinvestment in these communities. NeighborWorks America is the nation’s leading trainer of community development and affordable housing professionals.

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