MARCH 15, 2014

FORECLOSURE !R E S I S T E R S

Foreclosure Resisters Meeting !When: First Saturday of every month ! 4pm to 6pm !!Where: Judson Memorial Church !! 239 Thompson Street! Manhattan!

Common Law’s Legal Clinic !When: Tuesday evenings ! 6:30pm to 8:30pm !!Where: NESRI, 90 John Street, # 308 ! ! Manhattan !! By appointment: 212-213-3920 !!

On March 3, 2015 a group of Foreclosure Resisters travelled to Albany with New Yorkers for Responsible Lending (NYRL) coalition to lobby for legislation to assist homeowners and communities facing foreclosure. Although we were invited by NYRL so that we might learn tips and best practices, Foreclosure Resisters proved to be invaluable partners in the lobbying effort. Together, Foreclosure Resisters & NYRL called for: (1) the creation of a Community Restoration Fund (more about CRF on page); (2) increased rights for homeowners attending Settlement Conferences; and (3) increased oversight of mortgage holders with vacant properties. Thanks to Michael for this great photo from Lobby Day!

Foreclosure Resisters Head to Albany to Lobby for Change!

!We support the Community

Restoration Fund JP Morgan Chase, Bank of America and Citibank agreed to pay New York State more than $800 mil l ion as compensation for mortgage servicing abuses and violations. !!Of these funds, NYRL is asking New York State to set aside $100 million to create the Community Restoration Fund. The CRF would keep homeowners in their homes and he lp communit ie s reco ver f rom the foreclosure crisis by:!!—Purchasing mortgages from banks at a discounted rate and then providing principal reduction modifications for homeowners;!!—Acquiring homes at auctions and short sales and then selling or renting the homes back to the homeowners at an affordable rate; and!!—Providing funding for local not-for-profit developers to turn vacant properties into affordable housing.!!NYRL is working hard to push for the creation of the Community Restoration !Fund. !!Please contact your local Assembl y Member and/or State Senator and let t h e m k n o w t h a t yo u s u p p o r t t h e Community Restoration Fund!

Wanda snaps a photo o f Kofi, Michael and Ken on the train to Albany early in the morning on March 3rd.!

Help Stop Rescue Scams One of the most frustrating aspects of being in foreclosure is not knowing where to go for help. Homeowners are flooded with mail sol ic itat ions and often preyed upon by foreclosure rescue scams.To help protect homeowners from foreclosure rescue scams, the New York State Attorney General’s office recently launched an easy to use website: AGScamHelp.com. Visit AGScamHelp.com if you would like to:!!—Find out if the company or individual you are working with is trusted by the government;!!—Report a suspected scam; and!!—Obtain tips on how to identify a scam.!!We will be offering a short tutorial on how to access and navigate the website at the legal clinic on March 24, 2015 and May 5, 2015.  Please come if you are interested!  !!!Congratulations to Jennifer and Geoffrey in Queens! !Jennifer and Geoffrey vacated a default, raised their legal defenses in a late answer, and “turned back the clock” to the beginning of Settlement Conferences. They accomplished all of this despite a confusing, unwieldy court system. They were not discouraged even though sent from courtroom to Clerk’s Office and back to courtroom! We salute their persistence and wish them the best of luck as they pursue a resolution.

Please note these changes: !No Foreclosure Resisters Meeting

April 4, 2015 due to the holiday.!!Next Resisters Meetings:

March 17, 2015 !April 21, 2015!

6:30pm - 8:30pm !90 John Street, Suite 308!

MARCH 15, 2014