REGIONAL ADMINISTRATOR ADOLFO CARRIÓN JOINS CONGRESSMAN GREGORY MEEKS TO URGE TROUBLED HOMEOWNERS TO APPLY FOR FINANCIAL HELP
Program to Help Homeowners at Risk of Foreclosure

NEW YORK - Regional Administrator Adolfo Carrión joined Congressman Gregory Meeks at his District Office in Jamaica, Queens to urge troubled homeowners to seek help under HUD's Emergency Homeowners' Loan Program (EHLP). The program provides emergency mortgage assistance to homeowners who are underemployed or unemployed due to the economy or a medical condition. The program, which closes this Friday, July 22, is expected to aid about 2,700 troubled New York homeowners.

"Through the Emergency Homeowners' Loan Program the Obama Administration is continuing our strong commitment to help keep families in their homes during tough economic times," said Carrión. "Working with Congressman Meeks, NeighborWorks America, and our community partners, we hope to help families keep their homes while looking for work or recovering from illness."

"Southeast Queens has been heavily affected by the foreclosure crisis," said Meeks. "It is critical for residents to act before July 22, 2011 deadline to take advantage of this potentially home-saving program."

Congress provided $1 billion dollars to HUD, as part of the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act, to implement EHLP. The program will assist homeowners who have experienced a reduction in income and are at risk of foreclosure due to involuntary unemployment, underemployment, due to economic conditions or a medical condition. HUD allocated $111,649,112 to fund this emergency loan program in New York.

Under EHLP program guidelines eligible homeowners can qualify for an interest free loan which pays a portion of their monthly mortgage for up to two years, or up to $50,000, whichever comes first.

The EHLP program will pay a portion of an approved applicant's monthly mortgage including missed mortgage payments or past due charges including principal, interest, taxes, insurances, and attorney fees. EHLP is expected to aid up to 30,000 distressed borrowers, with an average loan of approximately $35,000.

The EHLP program is a complement to the Hardest Hit Fund which makes available $7.6 billion to 18 states and the District of Columbia that were hardest hit by the housing crisis. The EHLP program will be offered in the following states: Alaska, Arkansas, Colorado, Hawaii, Iowa, Kansas, Louisiana, Maine, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Mexico, New York, North Dakota, Oklahoma, South Dakota, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, Wisconsin, and Wyoming and Puerto Rico. Five states operating substantially similar programs are administering EHLP directly: Connecticut, Delaware, Idaho, Maryland, and Pennsylvania. With today's launch, mortgage assistance is now available for unemployed and underemployed homeowners in every state.

Contact information for participating agencies, the Pre-Applicant Screening Worksheet and more information on the EHLP program and its eligibility requirements can be found at www.FindEHLP.org or by calling toll free at (855) FIND-EHLP (346-3345).

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