C.H.A.N.G.E.R.

Homeownership Preservation Event Sponsored by Councilman Ruben Wills

louellette — Tue, 21 Jun 2011 22:41:42 +0000

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.

It’s A Long Process

louellette — Mon, 20 Jun 2011 23:19:42 +0000

A Long Process from CHANGER on Vimeo.

Thank you for Sponsoring CHANGER

louellette — Fri, 17 Jun 2011 18:41:24 +0000

Thank you for sponsoring our 2011 Summer Soiree. We can not wait to see you. If you have questions related to your Sponsorship please contact Lionel Ouellette at (917) 804-7047 or via email at louellette@changernyc.org.

Thank for your Summer Soiree Ticket Purchase

louellette — Fri, 17 Jun 2011 18:36:00 +0000

Thank you for purchasing a ticket to our 2011 Summer Soiree. We can not wait to see you. If you would like to purchase a journal ad to congratulate one of our honorees, thank a particular staff member, or post a message contact Lionel Ouellette at (917) 804-7047 or via email at louellette@changernyc.org.

CONNECT QUEENS

admin — Thu, 09 Jun 2011 03:07:03 +0000

CHANGER’s Annual Benefit: Our Summer Soiree 2011

admin — Mon, 06 Jun 2011 22:39:00 +0000

BUY TICKETS NOW

Deputy Borough President of Manhattan, Rosemonde Pierre-Louis, Ana Oliveira, President and CEO of the New York Women’s Foundation, Alice Stockton-Rossini of 1010 WINS, and Antoinette Coffi-Ahibo, a CHANGER homeowner leader will be honored at this year’s Summer Soiree on Thursday evening July 14, 2011 at The Commons in Boerum Hill, Brooklyn from 6 – 9 pm. Along with our membership, we will have community stakeholders, elected officials from Brooklyn and Queens, private sector volunteers, our non-profit partners, and other community leaders.

CHANGER exists to support minority homeowners to maintain stable homeownership, organize and advocate for minority homeownership, and to build individual family wealth and assets.

After tremendous gains, minority homeownership in New York City is at a monumental breaking point. Without the critical support many of these hard working families, single mothers, immigrants, and municipal employees that make our city run will be removed from homeownership. The rampant abusive lending that rendered these households in crisis has transformed into new deceptive financial services and products targeting the same families. Your participation in our Summer Soiree will guarantee you a fun evening as well as enabling CHANGER to continue to grow and serve these families.

We can’t wait to see you.

For tickets CLICK HERE.

For sponsorship opportunities and purchasing journal ad space call (917)-804-7047 or email louellette@changernyc.org.

Happy Summer. See you on July 14th

You Can Buy Tickets Now Below.

CHANGER Members – $50
Admission for one.

Individual Supporter – $75
Admission for one

Community Supporter – $150
Includes admission for one and recognition on event materials.

Community Leader – $250
Includes admission for one and special recognition on event materials.

Banks skip out on check and leave the tabs for homeowners!

admin — Wed, 08 Dec 2010 20:10:41 +0000

PRESS ADVISORY WEDNESDAY DECEMBER 8, 2010

CONTACT: Lionel Ouellette (917)-804-7047 or louellette@changernyc.org

Press conference location: Brooklyn Supreme Court (intersection of Cadman Plaza West and Montague Street)

Download a PDF Press Release here.

Banks skip out on check and leave the tabs for homeowners!

Brooklyn, New York—On Friday Dec. 10^th at 9am in front of the Brooklyn Supreme Court CHANGER, a city-homeowner organization will gather for a Press Conference about Banks violation of a state law to act in good faith in Foreclosure cases. Leroy and Candy Strachan have accrued close to $150,000 in interest, penalties, and legal fees in their 19 month Brooklyn foreclosure settlement conference with Bank of America. The Strachan’s and their attorneys from Common Law have appeared in court 19 times, since February 2009, prepared with the necessary documents and proposed settlement terms. Bank of America’s attorneys repeatedly appeared without knowledge of the case and unprepared to negotiate; clearly not acting in good faith. “We went to our first settlement conference in February 2009 fully prepared to negotiate. Had Bank of America acted in good faith at that point we would not have accrued almost $150,000 in additional fees,” says homeowner Candy Strachan.

“Even though the lenders and their servicers are now required by law to negotiate in good faith with homeowners at foreclosure settlement conferences, advocates and homeowners have seen little evidence of the banks’ honest intentions to reach fair settlements” says Karen Gargamelli co-director of Common Law, referring to New York State law and Brooklyn Supreme Court Rules.

“On track for another 18,000 new foreclosures in 2011, there has to be a change” says CHANGER executive director Lionel Ouellette. “We are going on three years at this unprecedented rate of foreclosure and defaulting mortgages and banks and servicers are still not performing adequately. Maybe sanctioning banks and their attorneys, in line with the law and not allowing them to collect on interest and other fees due to unnecessarily drawn out foreclosures, will speed up settlements,” adds Lionel Ouellette.

“Thus far in New York City, there have been no real consequences for lenders and servicers utter lack of good faith. We hope to see a change on Friday. We are asking the Court to dismiss a foreclosure action brought by Bank of America because of its repeated disregard for the Court’s orders and federal guidelines,” says Karen Gargamelli co-director of Common Law.

“Usually when I pay a tab it’s for services rendered. In this case I am being asked to pay for Bank of America’s inaction,” says Leroy Strachan referring to the $150,000 in fees.

Justice Bernadette Bayne will hear arguments from Common Law Attorney Karen Gargamelli and Bank of America’s attorneys on December 10^th.

# # #

If you would like more information about this topic or to schedule an interview, please call Lionel Ouellette at 917-804-7047 or email Lionel at louellette@changernyc.org.

CHANGER Inc. & The Nigerian Lawyers Association’s Free Legal Clinic

admin — Wed, 03 Nov 2010 00:17:21 +0000

WHO: Nigerian Lawyers Association & CHANGER Inc.
WHAT: FREE LEGAL CLINIC
DATE: Saturday, November 13, 2010
TIME: 1:00pm to 4:00 pm
LOCATION: The Commons, 388 Atlantic Ave., Main Floor

(Between Hoyt Street and Bond Street)

Brooklyn, NY 11217

Landlord/Tenant
Real Estate
Family & Matrimonial
Immigration
Criminal
Personal Injury
Bankruptcy
Consumer Debt
Civil/Small Claims
Trusts & Estate

FOR INQUIRIES CALL:

(917) 755-5886 / (480) 239-1410 / (212) 566-9926.

RSVP TODAY!!

New York Women’s Financial Empowerment Seminar

admin — Tue, 14 Sep 2010 19:31:19 +0000

Do you need to eliminate or repair your credit? Need assistance in budgeting and financial planning? Build wealth? This seminar series is a great way to get on track to achieving your financial goals.

If you would like to RSVP email your name and number to Andra Horgan

ahorgan@changernyc.org or call (718) 596. 2016.

RSVP

The Crisis of Credit Visualized – Part 1 of 2

admin — Sat, 28 Aug 2010 00:07:45 +0000