Wendy and Jude Pierre-Louis of Canarsie, Brooklyn, fell behind on their mortgage payments in 2007 after suffering a series of family- and employment-related hardships, which included a significant loss of income. They reached out to a neighborhood realtor who promised to help them obtain a modification. After paying approximately $3,000 for assistance that never materialized, they contacted New York Mortgage Coalition (NYMC), a CNYCN partner. Thanks to the work of NYMC, they received a HAMP loan modification in January 2010. The HAMP modification reduced their mortgage payments by over $2,500 each month.

Unfortunately, the Pierre-Louis’ still could not afford their total monthly payments due to a second mortgage with a very high interest rate. They sought the assistance of South Brooklyn Legal Services, another CNYCN partner. Staff attorney Rebekah Cook-Mack helped them access CNYCN’s Mortgage Assistance Program (MAP). With MAP, homeowners who have experienced a hardship can get zero percent interest loans to stop a foreclosure. The Pierre-Louis' were approved for a MAP loan and they were able to pay off their second mortgage with a balance of over $157,000 with just $20,000 from MAP.

The Pierre-Louis’ mortgage payments have gone from $6,000 dollars a month on the two mortgages to under $2,100 today. What’s more, the amount of debt no longer exceeds the value of the home. "We want more homeowners to know their options and not get scammed as we did in the beginning before we found free legal help with South Brooklyn Legal Services," says Wendy Pierre-Louis. "We know that there are many other families in a similar situation. We hope they learn about our case, so that they reach out for help before it is too late."