CNYCN Homeowner Testimonials
NHS of Jamaica, Queens
“I lost my job in June 2009 for the first time ever after 20 years of working. My wife was also laid off. We started to fall behind on our mortgage and the bank intimidated us with countless letters. One month, I received 10 letters. I own a 2-family home with my wife and am trying to hold onto it. Luckily, I heard about NHS of Jamaica and I have been working here with my counselor Daniel and have received a forbearance and now we are trying to get another extension. I am looking for a job but they are difficult to find in the food business right now. More people should know about the free services of NHS. I think only 10% of the people around here know how much help you can get."
Hernan Delpino, Ozone Park, Jamaica, Queens, client of NHS of Jamaica
NHS of Jamaica, Queens
“I inherited my house from my mother and I grew up in this house. My husband and I did a lot of renovations to it and needed to take out a second mortgage. But, then I got ill and was not able to work for almost a year and medical bills started to add up. We fell behind on our mortgage and went to our bank several times to ask for a loan modification, but we got no help. My husband went online to search for assistance, but ended up contacting a scammer. This company asked us for $1,000 upfront, which we paid over the phone with a credit card. The representative said that he would be in touch to set up an appointment to help us with our mortgage. He also told us not to pay our mortgage any more, so that it would be easier for them to help us. We stopped paying and fell further behind. But that rep never called again, they just disappeared. We heard from a friend that they had gotten help at NHS of Jamaica and we called them. We visited the center and our counselor is in the process of getting in touch with our lender and we will also get free legal advice.”
Veronica Prescott-Ramos and Steven Ramos of Queens Village, NY, client of NHS of Jamaica
NHS of Jamaica, Queens
“I have owned a two-family home in Queens Village for 18 years. I have fallen behind my mortgage badly and I need advice on how to follow up with my lender with all the documents that are needed. I have received a modification packet but everything takes such a long time. My counselor Cerinelly here is encouraging me to call my bank every two weeks to check on the status. I am hoping that the modification will lower my payments to an affordable level as I only work part-time now because my hours got reduced. My income went from $800 a week to only $200 and I also have a daughter who is in college.”
Sonia Perlaza, Queens Village, Queens, client of NHS of Jamaica
Flatbush Development Corporation & NHS of East Flatbush, Brooklyn
“I have been coming to both centers for about year now. Bad times hit me when I went on disability and my income was severely reduced because of my job loss. I was approached by scammers, who scared me as they would want to set up an account and asked for my social security number. I know people who have been scammed for mortgages and even for their immigration papers in order to get a US citizenship. Originally, I came to receive food stamps and help with my veteran benefits in the HEAP Assistance Program. I got my first trial loan modification from NHS of East Flatbush for my 2-family house, which I have owned for over 30 years with my family. My payments have gone from $2,500 to $1,100, which is a huge help. I have told all my friends and neighbors about the help I am getting. The counselors here take their time and treat people the way I want to be treated.”
CAMBA, Brooklyn
“My wife and I have received help from CAMBA with a lot of different services from my wife’s citizenship to our mortgage. We own a 2-family in Canarsie. I am a yellow cab driver and not making the same money I used because of the economy and the competition from more livery cabs on the roads. My house got a lot of problems and I need to be able to fix the leaking roof and the windows. My counselor is trying to see if I would qualify for the HAMP program to get a loan modification and repayment plan. There is a lot of paperwork needed as I am self-employed.”
Aliadji Ouattara, Canarsie, Brooklyn, client of CAMBA
Chhaya CDC, Queens:
“I have defaulted on my loan and I am facing foreclosure. I applied for a repayment plan twice and have not gotten approved, so that I would make payment on both the interest and principle. I did not understand the terms of the loan that originally was given from my lender – it was a subprime, an interest-only, adjustable hybrid loan. I have owned my one-family house for 4 years. I make sushi packages for supermarkets and business is really down. In addition to not being able to pay my mortgage, I have gotten into credit card debt. I tried to fix that and contacted a company that I heard advertising on the radio. But this was a scam – they took my money but never consolidated my debt. Now, I am in over my head. Chhaya’s counselors are trying to see if I could qualify for the New York’s Neediest Fund for help in my situation.”
Yudis Genero, Elmhurst, Queens, client of Chhaya CDC
Staten Island Legal Services, Staten Island
“I was approved for a loan modification in July when I first appeared in court, but I never received the loan modification packet in the mail. I tried calling the lender several times but got nowhere, and I ended up going back to court in the end of August. After two hours on the phone, we finally reached the right person at the bank. He told the attorney that the lender was backlogged. It is so hard to get information and especially correct information. Thank heavens for Legal Services of Staten Island who helped me with the court proceedings because I can’t afford a private attorney.”
Dolores Galloway, Staten Island, client of Staten Island Legal Services
 |
| Five Signs You May Have A Bad Mortgage |
 |
You always struggle to make your monthly payments. |
|
You have two or more mortgages or line of credit on one property. |
|
The interest rate on your mortgage keeps increasing. |
|
Despite regular payments, your principal amount keeps increasing. |
|
You are only paying interest. |
| By Chhaya CDC (means shelter), CNYCN Network Partner servicing Queens community. Services available in English, Bangla, Hindi and Urdu. |
|
News from Center for NYC Neighborhoods
A.G. Schneiderman Announces CNYCN as Anchor Partner in Homeowner Protection Program
A.G. Schneiderman Announces $60 Million Commitment To Fund Housing Counseling And Legal Services For Struggling Homeowners Announces
Request For Applications For A.G.’s Homeowner Protection Program
Schneiderman: Funding Housing Counseling And Legal Services Will Help Struggling New Yorkers Keep Their Homes
HUD Secretary Donovan: New York’s Program Is A Model For How Mortgage Settlement Funds Should Be Used Nationwide
HAUPPAUGE – At an event at the Long Island Housing Partnership, Attorney General Eric T. Schneiderman today announced the launch of the Homeowner Protection Program, his office’s commitment of $60 million over three years to fund housing counseling and legal services for struggling New York homeowners. Today’s announcement coincides with the release of the Request for Applications (RFA) for the Attorney General’s program for service providers to begin the process of helping homeowners. The Attorney General was joined by U.S. Secretary for Housing and Urban Development Shaun Donovan, homeowners, and representatives from agencies that will be partners in the effort.
“The rise in foreclosures across New York is troubling, but this isn’t just a matter of numbers: each foreclosure represents a devastating loss for a family and a community. This program puts homeowners first, and will get our neighborhoods back on track,” said Attorney General Schneiderman. “Funding housing counseling and legal services is an essential first step to help more families stay in their homes and avoid foreclosure. As we continue to investigate the mortgage crisis that has hurt communities in every corner of this state, we must ensure that homeowners get the expert guidance and legal representation they need to protect their rights before it's too late. ”
The funds to be awarded through the RFA process represent a portion of the millions ofdollars that New York received as a result of the national mortgage servicing settlement that was announced in February between the five largest mortgage servicing banks, 49 states, and the federal government over foreclosure abuses.
Housing and Urban Development Secretary Shaun Donovan hailed Attorney General Schneiderman’s use of the settlement funds to directly assist homeowners who are still struggling. Secretary Donovan said, "Since the settlement was announced I have met with state attorneys general across the country to urge them to use these settlement dollars to help homeowners. Not only has Attorney General Schneiderman joined many of his colleagues in making that commitment, he is moving to get these dollars out to housing counseling and legal services groups so that homeowners can benefit directly. This program is a national model for how the settlement money should be spent. The leadership that Attorney General Schneiderman showed in helping to get this historic settlement completed is why homeowners like Sabrina Lacy can now sleep easier at night.”
The Office of the Attorney General has retained the Center for New York City Neighborhoods (CNYCN) and the Empire Justice Center (EJC) to act as “Anchor Partners” for the funding program. They will assist with the administration and management of grants. CNYCN will cover grants in New York City and EJC will assist with grants throughout the rest of the state. Both organizations have a long history of grant management for government programs, as well as direct training, technical assistance and support to direct service providers in the areas of housing counseling and legal services. Read More...
A.G. Schneiderman Announces $3 million Awarded for Foreclosure Prevention Legal Services Statewide
$1.5 million allocated to NYC legal services providers
NEW YORK – Attorney General Eric T. Schneiderman today announced his office has awarded $3 million in foreclosure prevention services to aid New Yorkers struggling through the foreclosure crisis. In January, Attorney General Schneiderman first issued a Request for Applications (RFA) seeking bids from non-profit legal services and legal aid organizations to provide direct legal services to homeowners in foreclosure or at imminent risk of foreclosure. 31 organizations across the state were awarded grants from the Attorney General to help homeowners.
Today's announcement comes only weeks after Attorney General Schneiderman designated a separate $15 million of the $132 million he secured from the national mortgage servicing settlement to be used to extend funding for foreclosure prevention and other related services. Up to $9 million of that allocation will be used to support the state's Foreclosure Prevention Services Program, which was set to expire on April 1, and $6 million will support housing and community renewal activities statewide through not-for-profit community-based housing organizations.
Read more »
CNYCN Announces Christie Peale as New Executive Director
Peale to Lead Nonprofit Charged With Addressing Local Repercussions of National Subprime Lending and Foreclosure Crisis
New York, NY– The board of the Center for New York City Neighborhoods (CNYCN), in conjunction with the City’s Department of Housing Preservation and Development (HPD) today announced that following an extensive search, current CNYCN Interim Director Christie Peale has been named as the organization’s Executive Director. CNYCN is an independent non-profit created in 2008 as New York City’s public/private foreclosure prevention resource and response. CNYCN works with and provides funding for more than 26 nonprofit, community-based organizations that assist homeowners in all five boroughs. CNYCN grew out of efforts by local leaders, including Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg and City Council Speaker Christine C. Quinn and non-profit partners, to create a systematic response to rapidly rising mortgage defaults and foreclosure filings, particularly in communities hardest hit by subprime and other unconventional loan products as well as job loss. CNYCN is funded by HPD and the City Council, along with generous contributions from numerous foundations and financial institutions.
Read more »
|
|
|
