|
Dear Friends You don't have to turn on the T.V. or open a newspaper to learn about the impact of the mortgage crisis in your local community. You are experiencing it firsthand through your own experience or that of your family, friends, and neighbors.
Many people have seen their savings and retirement accounts shrink, even disappear as they use(d) that money to pay mortgage and other bills. Some people who have retired have now gone back to work as those savings dwindle. Others have postponed retirement plans. Some have already sold their homes or even lost them to foreclosure. And in increasing numbers, many are facing the very real and disturbing possibility of foreclosure.
For many, this is a new and devastating experience. They were successful and worked all their lives, paid taxes, supported your parish, and many charitable causes. They were the people who helped others in need. And now they have become people in need and don't know where to go for help.
I wish I could tell you that Catholic Charities had a program in every county of the Diocese and extensive funds available to assist them. Sadly we do not though we have some limited funds and are trying to learn as much as we can to be of assistance going forward. What we can do now is gather and share useful information about the mortgage crisis and about resources that are available, and how to access them. Actually there are a growing number of resources funded by both federal and state money, delivered by government agencies or government approved nonprofit agencies.
New Jersey is a leader in the country in offering mediation services to those in the process of foreclosure. NJ is the only State in the Country right now that has a mandatory Foreclosure Mediation Program. Because of this mandatory program, banks and mortgage companies in NJ cannot finalize a foreclosure proceeding without going through mediation whereby a neutral third party mediator attempts to work out a restructured mortgage, allowing homeowners to keep their homes.
I have begun to gather a supply of resource materials on this problem and want to share them with you so that in turn you can share them with your parishioners. I am including a supply attached above. I HAVE LISTED BELOW A TABLE OF CONTENTS WHICH DESCRIBES EACH OF THE RESOURCES. I SUGGEST YOU USE AS MANY AS YOU WISH AND IN WHATEVER ORDER YOU WISH. Foreclosure Mediation Program Resources - Table of Contents Week One:
Is Your Home in Foreclosure? (page one)
A Note to Homeowners (page two)
Week Two:
Foreclosure Fast Facts (pages three and four)
Week Three:
Common Questions about Foreclosure (pages five and six)
Week Four:
Are You at Risk of Foreclosure (pages seven and eight)
Week Five:
Tips for Avoiding Foreclosure (pages nine and ten)
Week Six:
Worried About Foreclosure/Make the Call (pages eleven and twelve)
Week Seven:
Common Myths Fact Sheet (pages thirteen and fourteen)
Week Eight:
State and Federal Mortgage Assistance Programs/Avoiding Foreclosures (pages fifteen and sixteen)
Week Nine:
Mortgage Assistance Pilot Programs (pages seventeen and eighteen)
Download the Resource File Feel free to use the materials in any way you feel appropriate and if you have other suggestions, please share them with me. Peace, Joseph F. Duffy President, Catholic Charities
sent via:
This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
|
