Civil and Human Rights Coalition Applauds Administration Investment in Housing Assistance and Counseling

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WASHINGTON, DC – Nancy Zirkin, executive vice president of The Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights, issued the following statement after the Obama Administration announced a major investment of Home Affordable Modification Program (HAMP) funding in providing housing counseling to expand access to federal programs to avert foreclosures:

“The civil and human rights community applauds today’s announcement, which will greatly expand the availability of homeowner counseling services to the communities most in need.

Getting families on the road to financial recovery and resolution of their housing finance issues is necessary to rebuild the foundations of economic stability in the communities still underwater from the foreclosure crisis. This funding will provide needed services for families to regain this footing, such as financial counseling, review of cases that were wrongly denied HAMP modifications, and help to enable families that lost their homes transition into affordable alternatives.

This renewed focus on housing counseling will ensure that more eligible homeowners will be able to access benefits already available to them, like the 12-month forbearance programs that have become the industry standard since their adoption by the Administration.

The Administration’s push for improvements aimed at keeping families in their homes is especially vital now because obstructionists in Congress continue to block more comprehensive solutions that require legislative action.

While there are encouraging signs of recovery in the housing market, the steps announced today will go a long way in helping to ensure that things stay on the right track.”

Nancy Zirkin is executive vice president of The Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights, a coalition charged by its diverse membership of more than 200 national organizations to promote and protect the rights of all persons in the United States. The Leadership Conference works toward an America as good as its ideals. For more information on The Leadership Conference and its 200-plus member organizations, visit www.civilrights.org.