Governor
O’Malley Announces More Than $2.5 Million to Support Foreclosure Prevention Counseling
Agencies
ANNAPOLIS, MD (April 29) – Governor Martin O’Malley joined housing counselors,
pro-bono attorneys and homeowners from Prince George’s County as he announced federal,
state and local funding awards totaling more than $2.5 million to help prevent foreclosures
in Maryland.
“Housing counselors are the first line of defense for homeowners threatened with
foreclosure,” said Governor O’Malley. “Anything we can do to support and strengthen
their efforts can make an impact on protecting families all over Maryland from losing
their homes. These awards recognize the hard work of these counselors and are symbolic
of our appreciation for their public service.”
The announcement was made at the New Chapel Baptist Church, which is affiliated
with KAIROS Community Development Corporation, an agency providing foreclosure prevention
counseling. Governor O’Malley was joined by Harold Davis, Executive Director of
the KAIROS Community Development Corporation and Reverend Kerry Hill, President
of the Collective Banking Group.
"We are so grateful for the Governor's support of this effort,” said Reverend Hill.
“When we began this crisis it was all about subprime lending. As this crisis has
grown, we see people losing jobs and everything completely unraveling in their lives
as they struggle with multiple challenges. I am very worried about the seniors in
our community and the families that are over extended and now owe more than their
houses are worth."
The Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD) supports a statewide
network of 30 nonprofit housing counseling agencies and 2 nonprofit legal services
providers as part of its Home Ownership Preserving Equity (HOPE) initiative.
The Governor’s announcement includes nearly $1.8 million of federal National Foreclosure
Mitigation Counseling (NFMC) - NeighborWorks funds and $500,000 from the State of
Maryland. In addition, during the roundtable discussion, DHCD Secretary Raymond
A. Skinner highlighted $240,000 in matching funds from Montgomery County for housing
counseling agencies operating in that County.
“Maryland’s housing counseling community has been an important partner in this fight
to combat foreclosures,” said Secretary Skinner. “Not only do they continue to fulfill
their traditional role in providing financial and mortgage guidance, but they have
advocating mightily for the better part of two years on behalf on thousands of families
who are threatened with losing their homes. Their work is greatly appreciated.”
Thirty non-profit housing counseling agencies statewide and two legal services providers
will share in the NFMC funds. Of those, nine including Belair-Edison Neighborhood,
St. Ambrose Housing Aid Center, Druid Heights CDC, Home Free USA, Housing Initiative
Partnership (HIP), Kairos CDC and Sowing Empowerment & Economic Development (SEED)
and statewide legal services organizations Civil Justice Network and the Pro Bono
Resource Center, will receive additional funds from the State’s $500,000 in funds.
Overall, the State has distributed more than $5.5 million in assistance since the
summer of 2007. The counseling network has assisted nearly 23,000 consumers and
helped more than 6,800 homeowners avoid foreclosure .
The State of Maryland’s, “Mortgage Late? Don’t Wait!” campaign has brought thousands
of Marylanders to the HOPE Hotline, 1-877-462-7555 and the HOPE Web Site.