News Release

June 1, 2010

Contact: Erin Angell Collins, 202-220-6317, ecollins@nw.org
Doug Robinson, 202-220-2360, drobinson@nw.org

NeighborWorks America Salutes 2010 National Homeownership Month

Washington, D.C. – Today NeighborWorks America announced a series of consumer outreach efforts to support affordable, sustainable and healthy homes and communities during the 2010 National Homeownership Month.

“For more than 30 years, NeighborWorks America and its network of affiliates around the country have supported and encouraged affordable and long-term homeownership,” said Ken Wade, CEO of NeighborWorks America. “From providing daily homeownership tips to urging homeowners facing foreclosure to talk to the right people, throughout National Homeownership Month we are working to get good information in the hands of potential homebuyers and current homeowners so they can achieve and sustain the American Dream of homeownership.”

NeighborWorks America and its network have planned a series of activities in June, including:

• Featuring  a “homeownership tip of the day” on NeighborWorks America’s National Homeownership Month Web page, the NeighborWorks News Blog, NeighborWorks America’s Facebook page, and via Twitter.

• Broadcasting videos that feature homeowners and nonprofits who discuss what homeownership means to them.  To see current examples, visit the NeighborWorks America YouTube channel.

• Urging homeowners who face foreclosure to contact the right people through a new public service announcement campaign designed to educate homeowners about where they can turn for help if they are at risk of foreclosure. The campaign urges homeowners to call the Hope Hotline – 888-995-HOPE (4673) – where they can speak to nonprofit HUD-approved housing counselors in English, Spanish, or more than 20 additional languages.  To view the ads, or for more information about the campaign, visit www.foreclosurehelpandhope.org.  Homeowners at risk of foreclosure can also find nonprofit, HUD-approved housing counselors in their community by visiting www.findaforeclosurecounselor.org.

• Encouraging homeowners who face foreclosure to avoid loan modification scams by linking homeowners to the Loan Scam Alert campaign web site, which contains tips on how to avoid loan modification scam artists and where to report loan modification scams.  The campaign web site is available in English and Spanish, and also has materials available in Chinese, Korean and Vietnamese.

• Holding a series of homeownership education classes, fairs, and loan modification awareness events during National NeighborWorks Week, June 5-12, 2010.

• Participating in industry training and education events that strengthen the nonprofit housing counseling community to meet the needs of homebuyers and existing homeowners.

For more information about NeighborWorks activities during National Homeownership Month, please contact Erin Angell Collins, ecollins@nw.org or 202-220-6317.

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. Since 1991, we have assisted nearly 1.2 million low- to moderate-income families with their housing needs. Much of our success is achieved through our support of the NeighborWorks network ― more than 235 community development organizations working in more than 4,400 urban, suburban and rural communities in all 50 states, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico. In the last five years, NeighborWorks organizations have generated more than $15 billion in reinvestment in these communities. NeighborWorks America is the nation’s leading trainer of community development and affordable housing professionals.