News Release

March 27, 2009

Contact: Erin Angell Collins, 202 220-631,eangell@nw.org
Jennifer Kibby, 513-502-7978, jkibby@nw.org

Hundreds Register for Week-Long NeighborWorks
Foreclosure Intervention Counseling Training
Another Example of NeighborWorks Efforts to Prevent Foreclosure

Cleveland, OH.—Nearly two hundred counselors from organizations around the country have registered for up to four days of foreclosure intervention counseling training delivered by NeighborWorks America, March 30-April 2, 2009.

The training is part of NeighborWorks America’s national effort to equip counselors in communities around the country with the information they need to assist families facing foreclosure. The training is provided as part of the $360 million in funds appropriated by Congress to strengthen foreclosure counseling services across the country.

“It’s vitally important that we strengthen and expand the capacity of the non-profit community to deal with the foreclosure crisis,” said Paul Poston, Great Lakes district director for NeighborWorks America. “With one in six families living in homes worth less than their mortgages, and as many as eight million homeowners expected to face foreclosure through 2012, the housing counseling community is needed more than ever to help slow the rise in foreclosure.”

The training comes at a time when so-called foreclosure “rescue” scam artists are working to take advantage of borrowers in danger of foreclosure.  NeighborWorks America urges borrowers to beware of ads, individuals, and companies who approach you and claim to be able to “stop foreclosure now” for a fee, and advises homeowners to turn to nonprofit HUD-approved counseling organizations.  Certified nonprofit foreclosure intervention counselors like the counselors being trained this week are trusted resources borrowers can turn to for foreclosure intervention help.

To find a nonprofit HUD-approved foreclosure counseling organization near you, visit www.findaforeclosurecounselor.org or www.nw.org.

More than 3,000 NeighborWorks certificates in homeownership, foreclosure intervention and default counseling were earned at this and other trainings around the country since 2008.

For more information about NeighborWorks America and its foreclosure intervention efforts visit www.nw.org.

About NeighborWorks America
NeighborWorks America 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.