News Release

June 14, 2010

Contact: Erin Angell Collins, 202-220-6317, ecollins@nw.org
Danielle Adams, 202-220-7092, dadams@nw.org

NeighborWorks America Reflects on 2010 NeighborWorks Week
More than 320 events celebrated local communities and informed consumers June 5-12, 2010

Washington, DC – Today NeighborWorks  America announced that during the 2010 NeighborWorks Week (June 5-12) NeighborWorks  America and local NeighborWorks organizations held more than 320 community revitalization and 150 loan modification scam awareness events nationwide. The theme for the 27th anniversary of NeighborWorks Week was informing homeowners on how to identify, avoid and report mortgage modification scams. The educational events ranged from canvassing neighborhoods with tip-sheets to holding one-on-one and group workshops about reputable mortgage modification programs. “Initiated 27 years ago, NeighborWorks Week celebrates the important work that our national network of affiliates is doing to create vibrant and strong communities,” said Ken Wade, CEO of NeighborWorks America. “This year NeighborWorks also focused on the pernicious threat of mortgage loan modification scams which are defrauding countless homeowners, leaving them with fewer resources and at greater risk of foreclosure. More than 7,700 mortgage modification scams have been reported to authorities since our public awareness campaign started in October. Through NeighborWorks weed thousands of homeowners were educated about ways to avoid scams and what to do if they already had been victimized. ” One such event took place on Friday, June 4, hosted by Neighborhood Housing Services of New York City, a NeighborWorks affiliate. Held in Times Square, the event featured dozens of volunteers talking to thousands of people. The NeighborWorks mortgage loan modification scam campaign materials were featured on the Times Square jumbotrons.  Tents were also set up where homeowners could talk to NeighborWorks representatives about scams, foreclosures, mortgage payments or any other issues associated with homeownership. This event raised awareness of loan modification scams, educated New Yorkers on how to buy their first home and celebrated the surrounding communities. Mayor Cory Booker of Newark, N.J. joined NeighborWorks America and the Newark-Essex Foreclosure Task Force to launch the Loan Scam Alert Campaign for Community Outreach Day in Newark. The event was held at a vacant, foreclosed home, which is to be re-developed into a community park. In addition to the mortgage modification scam prevention events nationwide, NeighborWorks organizations held community celebrations and hands-on community building activities, including home repair and painting events, landscaping projects and mural painting. 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.