CONNECT QUEENS:

Saturday June 25, 2011 1-3pm.  New Haven Ministries-Starlight Pavillion 130-05 101st ave, Richmond Hill, NY 11418

Homeownership Preservation: Strategies for Success & Negotiations through Mortgage Delinquency

For more information call 718-596-2010.

The CONNECT QUEENS CAMPAIGN (of CHANGER, Inc.) is intended to connect homeowners to the quality mortgage counseling and legal services that are provided by nonprofit organizations in Queens. The campaign was developed to address the following persistent problems:

1) Homeowners in Queens continue to rank at the top of the list of homeowners across the state of New York who are at-risk of foreclosure.

2) Homeowners in Queens continue to be victimized by fraudulent and/or illicit private companies who charge exorbitant upfront fees and promise or guarantee to “save” a homeowner from foreclosure, but usually do little to no work. This problem is particularly high amongst non-English speaking homeowners in Queens.

3) Many homeowners, due to a lack of trust or a belief that they can workout their mortgage problems alone, have often been led to sign agreements with their banks that are not in their best interests. These homeowners are the “doing it ourselves” group, and we are consistently seeing problems with the types of workout solutions that these homeowners are obtaining from their banks. Homeowners, for the most part, are not qualified to negotiate with their banks, and it is vital that they make connections with nonprofit service providers who can assist them at no cost.

As part of our CONNECT QUEENS CAMPAIGN, we are organizing Homeowner Education events on a periodic basis throughout the borough. We are also engaging in door-knocking, telephone outreach, and direct-mailing efforts.

Queens Museum:

CHANGER Homeowners Visit the Queens Museum of Art’s Red Lines Exhibit by Damon Rich. They were able to see a block by block replica of NYC, showing were the concentrations of foreclosures. The exhibit also showed the history of red lining and sub-prime mortgages in communities of color. The homeowners also participated in a Consumer Finance Workshop.

Hunter Urban Policy Students:

CHANGER enlists Hunter College Urban Policy Students to research foreclosure issues, existing resources and CHANGER’s role with homeowners in Southeast Queens. The Students will submit a report at the end of the term.

National Conference of Black Lawyers:

CHANGER was invited by the National Conference of Black Lawyers to be a panelist on the “Battling Mortgage Foreclosure Crisis” Workshop at their annual conference. CHANGER presented a local (NYC) perspective of the foreclosure crisis and the methods CHANGER is currently using and what is needed to address the crisis.

Obama Plan Workshop:

The Making Home Affordable Program Workshop, which includes the Home Affordable Modification Program (HAMP) is one of many educational workshops offered by CHANGER to empower homeowners.

Legal Clinic:

CHANGER’s Pro Se Legal Clinic is one of the direct services in our COPE² program. Court Documents (Answers and Orders to Show Cause) are prepared by attorneys after an intake. Homeowners are prepped to represent themselves in court.

Queens Training:

CHANGER’s Consumer Finance Workshop was held at Thomasina’s Restaurant with the assistance of Senator Malcolm Smith’s Office. This workshop discusses what the homeowner’s role is in the battle to obtain financial equality.

Federal Reserve Board Meeting:

CHANGER joined National People’s Action, PICO, Neighborhood Economic Development Advocacy Project, Americans for Financial Reform, Northwest Bronx Community and Clergy Coalition, South Brooklyn Congregation United, Queens Congregations United for Action and Association for Neighborhood and Housing Development and convened a meeting with the Federal Reserve Board.

Consumer Finance Protection Agency information event (Southeast Queens)

James Lewis of CHANGER at the National Conference of Black Lawyers' Panel Discussion on the Mortgage Crisis' Impact on Minority Communities

Redlines Crisis Learning Center Exhibit

James Lewis' presentation during meeting with Federal Reserve officials.

CHANGER meets with Federal Reserve officials

Consumer Finance Protection Agency info

CHANGER Members at the Queens Museum's Redlines Crisis Learning Center