Heavyhitters bring attention to foreclosure problem

By Michelle E. Shaw

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

The HUD Secretary and three U.S. Representatives have joined forces to promote the two-day Atlanta “Help for Homeowners” event.

The program is sponsored by the Obama administration’s Making Home Affordable Program, HOPE NOW Alliance and NeighborWorks America, and will be held Friday from 1 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. and Saturday from 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m., at the Atlanta Marriott Marquis.

“As a member of the Financial Services Committee, I am constantly asking the Obama Administration to do more to help stem the tide of foreclosures,” said U.S. Rep. David A. Scott (D-Ga.), who is scheduled to be there Saturday. “I am participating given that this is exactly what we envisioned when funding these outreach programs. I applaud Treasury, HUD and the other groups for putting so much effort into the Atlanta event.”

Rep. John Lewis, Rep. Hank Johnson and U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development Secretary Shaun Donovan, are expected to be in attendance Saturday and make remarks at a news conference.

The free, two-day event is open to the public. Homeowners who attend will have a chance to meet face-to-face with their mortgage lender and HUD-approved counselors will be on hand help find solutions to mortgage problems.

Homeowners who plan on attending should bring:

• Monthly mortgage statement and information about other mortgages on the home, if applicable
• Two most recent pay stubs, documentation of income you receive from other sources or most recent quarterly profit and lost statement if you are self-employed
• Two most recent bank statements
• Account balances and monthly payments for credit cards and other debts
• Estimates of other monthly expenditures, such as utilities, insurance and medical bills.

“As the foreclosure crisis led to the Wall Street meltdown, massive job loss and chronic unemployment have ensued and exacerbated the foreclosure crisis,” Johnson said Thursday. “So, unfortunately as local and federal lawmaker, I’ve seen this issue up close for too many years now. It’s one of the reasons I’m pleased to be a part of this event, and pleased so many lenders will be there to begin the process.”