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TRANSCRIPT
Government sponsored programs
An overview of considerations when initiating a County-run Foreclosure Prevention program w/various approaches
Mark Wiseman – Director, Cuyahoga County Foreclosure Prevention Program
216.443.7461 [email protected]
Foreclosure Prevention
Where the heck did the County Go?
Mark Wiseman, Director Cuyahoga County Foreclosure Prevention
Program [email protected] 216.443.7461
Causes of problem
Community specific Predatory lending Home Improvement Fraud Economy Flipping Refusal on part of lenders to accept
deeds in lieu Workout issues
Overall premises of program
Borrowers don’t realize the need to contact lender Freddie Mac study
Practical reasons for ostrichization Collectors v. loss mit
Practical help not avail until borrower seriously delinquent
Workability issues Counselors provide a real benefit
Overall Premises (2)
Borrowers can be educated to make the proper decisions
Predatory lending exists Gov’t can be educated about their
role in stopping Fraud Follow up on building permits Educate homeowners Attack fraudulent actors
Prep work necessary for program
Agency assessment Site visits/self-appraisals Funds available v. anticipated needs
Raise money Knowledge of all players in
community Knowledge of Bad guys, Schemes,
Problem products
Prep Work (2)
Financial partners/Non-financial partners
Gov’t players must work together Capitalize on gov’tal experience
dealing w/counseling agencies Put together marketing package Credibility in public’s eyes necessary
Special circs that will foster success
Existence of non-profit community Experienced, primed, willing
Does situation need drastic action? Is Gov’t ready to act in a leadership
role? What is overall climate? Are suburbs involved?
Special circs (2)
Vacant homes costing money One Cuy Cty municipality budgeting >
$750,000/yr to maintain vacant homes Vision, insight and courage on behalf
of gov’t “Predatory lending” not exactly popular
term Local lending community willing to
take steps
Practical aspects
Does program need one intake line as destination for calls?
Counseling available to borrowers at all phases of the home loan process
Education at all phases Agencies involved in creation of
program Will County operate program v.
provide information?
Marketing Program Must complete groundwork, before
campaign starts Free Media v. Paid Media Post cards to high F/C neighborhoods Post cards while borrowers might be
targeted Billboards, TV, Radio
Freddie Mac “Don’t Borrow Trouble” is one example
Who will pay for it
May be limitations on funds available to gov’t agencies Cuy Cty – Filing fee increase and
Treasurer’s funds forbidden Lender/Foundation donations County available funds
Block grant funds General fund TANF funds
General County-run model Create link between County gov’t and
counseling agencies Provide information to borrowers
about F/C process as well Encourage borrowers to get
counseling AND to stay in their homes Use Gov’t influence to lend credibility
to efforts
General County model (2)
Create website Use direct mailings Offer educational programs Utilize resources already available Counseling is cornerstone of program
Barriers Foreclosure Rescue Scammers
$ to hire “help to contact lender” w/or w/out attorney
“We buy houses” Copy cats
Still easier to get bad loan, than to fact the music
Counseling costs money Culture change takes decades
Lucas County
Foreclosure Prevention & Intervention Task Force
Borrowers informed about various Counseling agencies
One phone number also touted Targeted mailings w/Foreclosure
Complaints contemplated
Lucas County Webpage
Located on County Homepage http://.co.lucas.oh.us/Foreclosurehelp/
Grid of agencies Foreclosure timeline, Glossary, FAQ’s
about F/C process
Franklin County
Monthly Counseling seminars for newly foreclosed upon
Borrowers informed about various Counseling agencies
Borrower owns counseling from very start
Public/Private Task Force Managing program on ongoing basis
Franklin County Webpage
Located on Treasurer’s webpage http://www.franklincountyohio.gov/treasu
rer/foreclosureint/index.html
Grid of lender contacts ! Foreclosure timeline, Tips, Seminars
Summit County
New Program Creation of a Foreclosure Prevention
Directory Creation of a mailer to go out w/new
filings Still meeting w/community leaders
and stakeholders
Summit County Webpage
Located on page for Office of Consumer Affairs http://www.co.summit.oh.us/conaffairs.ht
m
Plan is to have information relating to predatory lending and F/C prevention
Cuyahoga County
Provide one local phone number for borrower assistance (United Way)
Program capitalizes on existing network of experienced counseling agencies
Agencies own model County pays agencies for increase in
capacity caused by calls to 2-1-1
Cuyahoga County Webpage
Located on County Homepage http://www.dontborrowtroublecc.org/
Foreclosure timeline, FAQ’s, process overview.
Borrower questions answered through website
Standalone website
Fallout
Cooperation from other gov’t agencies
Increased focus on prosecutorial action
Municipalities more willing to participate in solution
Money easier to raise
Government sponsored programs
An overview of considerations when initiating a County-run Foreclosure Prevention program w/various approaches
Mark Wiseman – Director, Cuyahoga County Foreclosure Prevention Program
216.443.7461 [email protected]