Urban Affairs Coalition 2013 Foreclosure Prevention Resource Guide is Available Now

The rate of housing foreclosures in Philadelphia is 1 in 723 homes, according to data from the real estate research firm RealtyTrac. This is slightly worse than the national rate of 1 in every 998 homes, and a major concern considering the city’s ongoing vacancy problem.

In light of these facts, the Urban Affairs Coalition Foreclosure Prevention Task Force recently released their 2013 Foreclosure Prevention Resource Guide, which is designed to provide a resource for professionals who are trying to help clients save their homes from foreclosure, including housing counselors, attorneys, social workers, lenders, elected officials, government agency staff and members of clergy.

The 50-page guide provides details on the complexities of the foreclosure process, the options at each stage  and special programs available to individuals facing foreclosure. The guide is divided into four primary sections:

• What is mortgage foreclosure and how does it work?
• How can I prevent mortgage foreclosure?
• How do I prevent tax delinquency foreclosure?
• If losing my home is inevitable, what are my options?

In addition, the guide provides a contact list of foreclosure-related phone numbers and e-mails, a housing counseling agency directory, and samples of notices and forms.

The guide was created with input from the Homeownership Counseling Association of Delaware Valley and attorneys who work with the Coalition’s Foreclosure Prevention Task Force – the law firm of Scholl & Ashodian, Philadelphia Legal Assistance and Community Legal Services. The guide was made possible by a grant through the Citi Foundation.

The guide is available online for free here. Contact Don Kelly, director of community and economic development at UAC, for hard copies of the guide free of charge.  Copies may be picked up at UAC’s office at 1207 Chestnut Street, 5th Floor.

Image via Nick Bastian on Flickr