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Homeowners waited to meet with HUD-certified housing counselors and attorneys from Bronx Legal Services.
Story by Debralee Santos and Toni-Ann Martin
Photos by Toni-Ann Martin
On Sat., March 12th, hundreds of Bronx homeowners attended the Rise Up and Stay Put Home Rescue Fair at Hostos Community College to take advantage of free foreclosure assistance services.
The event was organized by the Center for New York City Neighborhoods (CNYCN), and was one of the 40 rescue fairs in 27 different communities nationwide, as hosted by the the Alliance for Stabilizing our Communities (ASC).
Established in 2009, the Alliance is a coalition organization of the National Urban League (NUL), the National Council of La Raza (NCLR), and the National Coalition for Asian Pacific American Community Development (National CAPACD) created to assist homeowners facing foreclosure specifically in African American, Hispanic and Asian communities.
Most of the attendees at the event were delinquent on mortgage payments or had homes in foreclosure.
All were reluctant to speak on their personal finances and foreclosure proceedings.
From 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., homeowners met with loan specialists in the gymnasium at Hostos Community College. They were asked to bring documents, such as copies of their loan agreement, utility pills, pay stubs and more for loan specialists to look at.
CNYCN’s Executive Director Michael Hickey said the rescue fair was an opportunity for them to meet with a representative from their bank and discuss options to save their homes. Housing counselors and legal service providers were also on site to offer advice.
By 8:30 am, there were 300 homeowners already preregistered.
After registration, each attendee was given a ticket and asked to be seated in the school’s auditorium, divided into groups based on their bank, or lender. They waited patiently to meet with the experts upstairs.
“Many people are frustrated with the amount of back and forth they have with their banks, and they want to sit down and speak with a human being face to face,” Hickey said. “Too many homeowners are trapped in 1-800 numbers.”
It also was a chance for homeowners to avoid the many scamming services that offer similar advice at unfair prices, he said.
Bronx Borough President Ruben Díaz Jr. spent time mingling with the volunteers and attendees. Díaz said that while he was impressed to see the amount of volunteers assisting the homeowners, but he was not surprised by the number of people present.
“It’s one of those events that is highly successful in turnout, but I wish that was not the case,” he said.
“Everyone here is struggling to keep their dream.”
Díaz said that the need for events like this is great, considering that the Bronx has a low home ownership rate.
According to the 2000 U.S. Bureau Census, the home ownership rate in the Bronx was 19.6 percent, while the state’s rate is 56 percent. (Updated data from the 2010 Census will not be available until April 1, 2011).
Currently, there are 3,447 loans in foreclosure in Bronx County, which is ranked 9th overall in number of pre-foreclosure notices sent out and 2nd in New York State for percentage of mortgages in default in the county.
Díaz said he hoped the event would result in many success stories at the day’s end.
"For everyone here, they get to take it at least one step forward. That's the goal," said CNYCN’s Executive Director Hickey, of his own hopes for the event.
Justin Haines, the director of Foreclosure and Prevention Unit at Bronx Legal Services, said a consultation with an attorney could cost $250 to $500, but there were four attorneys and three paralegals at the home rescue fair answering legal questions about the foreclosure process for free.
A number of questions came from those who were denied loan modifications to decrease their monthly mortgage payments.
Haines said he and his colleagues assessed the denial to determine its validity and if there was any way to challenge it.
He also encouraged people to answer the foreclosure summons and complaint as soon as they receive it. Missing the window of opportunity to answer could potentially quicken the foreclosure process.
Inside, the 98.7 KISS FM table was the source of loud cheers, laughter and smiles.
Cynthia Campbell, a representative from the radio station, was raffling off items to guests, including free books, T-shirts, movie passes, DVDs, key chains, pens and stickers.
“What they’re doing is a serious thing. We do giveaways to lighten the spirit,” Campbell said. “A few of the people we spoke to were upset, a little down. We give them something, and it makes them feel a little better.”
Radio personality Bob Slade said they were glad to be a part of the event.
“Each event is an eye opener. All kinds of folks are coming out, and consider the number of people who are not here that are going through this,” he said. “If we can help in any way, we will, [just] so people are not giving up their homes and not being put out on the streets.
Slade explained that a colleague from the radio station had faced a similar foreclosure situation as the guests today. The colleague also attended a similar event last year, and eventually was approved and able to keep his home.
For Slade, it was living proof of the success of assistance sorely needed.
Tthe next Rise Up & Stay Put Home Rescue Fair will be on April 23rd at York College, 94 - 20 Guy R. Brewer Blvd., Jamaica, NY.
All New York City residents are welcomed to attend.
For more information, contact the Alliance for Stabilizing our Communities at 1-866-842-3391.
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