[Archived] News Release - Free Foreclosure Prevention Services Available to City Residents

City Press Release


	For Immediate Release	For More Information, Contact
	October 22, 2007 PIO# 262-07	Jennifer Harris, Communications Officer, at 703.838.5078

Free Foreclosure Prevention Services Available to City Residents

City residents who are experiencing difficulty in meeting their monthly mortgage payments, as well as those already in the process of foreclosure, are eligible for a free training and counseling service offered by Housing Counseling Services (HCS). The goal of the program is to encourage and assist delinquent homeowners to seek actionable, workable and immediate solutions to prevent foreclosure. HCS is a contract agency of the City of Alexandria, which already provides training and individual counseling for first-time home buyers who live or work in Alexandria.

HCS’s Foreclosure Prevention Clinic will offer participants a presentation on the "dos and don'ts" when facing mortgage delinquency. At the end of the workshop, participants will be individually assessed, triaged, and will immediately be given the opportunity to schedule a default and delinquency (D&D) counseling session. At the individual session, the client's personal situation will be explored, options will be presented and a work plan to address financial issues will be established.

The Foreclosure Prevention Clinic is held twice each month in English and once each month in Spanish. Sessions are currently scheduled to be held on the first Tuesday of every month from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. and the third Tuesday or every month from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at HCS offices, located at 2410 17^th Street, NW, Suite 100 (Adams Alley Entrance) Washington, D.C.

HCS is a U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD)-approved non-profit organization funded to provide free training, counseling and advocacy to homeowners, homebuyers and tenants. For more information on the Foreclosure Prevention Clinic, please contact Ron Clarkson or Elias Cohn at 202.667.7006. For more information on the homebuyer assistance programs offered by the City, contact the Office of Housing at 703.838.4622.

Individuals with disabilities who require special on-site assistance or special arrangements to participate in the Clinic may call HCS at 202.667.7006.

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