Jointlogo GARCETTI ASKS CITY TO REPORT ON SCOPE OF SUB-PRIME WOES IN LOS ANGELES

LOS ANGELES – April 12, 2007 –Los Angeles City Council President Eric Garcetti today announced the creation of the Mortgage HOPE Crisis Hotline (888) 388-HOPE, an initiative of Operation HOPE. The toll-free hotline was initiated to provide free financial counseling to those most in jeopardy of losing their homes."

los Angeles has the worst housing crisis in the nation. Increasing monthly mortgage payments are pushing more and more homeowners into precarious situations. People experience it as a private problem, but it’s a crisis for our city, and we need to reach out with the information that can help people stay in their homes and weather the storm,” said Garcetti. In addition to letting Angelenos know about the hotline, he plans to introduce a motion in Friday’s Council meeting requesting a report from city staff on financial literacy programs, foreclosure activity, and the impact of sub-prime lending practices in Los Angeles.

Angelenos in danger of defaulting on their adjustable or variable rate mortgage loans, or those who are struggling to make monthly mortgage payments, should take advantage of the free service.

Operation HOPE, Founder, Chairman and CEO John Hope Bryant stated, “Financial illiteracy is at the heart of the sub-prime mortgage lending crisis. Households where middle class Americans simply sought to purchase ‘too much home,’ effectively asking the wrong question: ‘What’s the payment?’ versus ‘What’s the interest rate?’” Bryant continued, “Frankly, this is precisely how my family lost our home when I was a child, and one of the reasons why I am so personally passionate about financial literacy today.”                     

Mortgage industry analysts estimate that as many as 1.5 million Americans are at risk of foreclosure as low introductory mortgage rates expire and payments increase.  The newly created toll-free crisis hotline will give at-risk homeowners an opportunity to obtain free guidance and counseling on how to resolve those financial issues.  The mortgage crisis counselors are trained to provide guidance on:

          How to negotiate with your lender

          How to apply for loan modifications

          How to avoid foreclosure

          How to sell a house and purchase a more affordable home

          How to restructure your existing debt and obligations

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