HOPE NOW Workshops Provide Help to ‘At-Risk’ Nevada Homeowners

In the latest of a string of homeownership preservation events offered by ""HOPE NOW"":https://www.hopenow.com/, representatives from more than a dozen mortgage servicers and several local HUD-approved housing counselors were on hand last week in Nevada to assist more than 2,300 struggling homeowners who attended workshops held in Reno and Las Vegas.

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The first workshop took place in Reno on Tuesday, during which 728 families had the opportunity to sit down one-on-one with their mortgage company and a HUD-approved housing counselor. And three more events were held in Las Vegas on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday, with a combined total attendance of 1,625.

The third day in Las Vegas was a document collection event, held specifically for the purpose of collecting missing documents needed for Home Affordable Modification Program applications, HOPE NOW said.

""The industry has engaged in unprecedented borrower outreach efforts across the country, completing almost 2.7

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million loan modifications since 2007,"" said Faith Schwartz, executive director of HOPE NOW. ""These events are a big part of the effort, and HOPE NOW will continue to collaborate with the government and the non-profit community to keep as many families as possible in their homes.""

Michael and Tanya, homeowners from Henderson, Nevada, attended one of the Las Vegas events and found it to be extremely beneficial. In fact, the couple was able to get a trial modification on-site.

Michael said he recently lost his job, and as a result, the couple was three months behind on their mortgage. When he explained his situation, the bank recommended the Making Home Affordable Program, and the couple was able to get approval for a trial modification that reduced their payment by 52 percent.

""Over 1 million homeowners across the country have been offered help from the Making Home Affordable Program,"" said Phyllis Caldwell, chief of the U.S. Department of the Treasury's homeownership preservation office, ""These events provide more homeowners the opportunity to meet one-on-one with their mortgage company and a HUD-approved housing counselor to discuss their options -- for free.""

Sponsored by HOPE NOW, the Obama administration's Making Home Affordable Program, and NeighborWorks America, these homeownership preservation events will continue throughout the year. Currently, workshops are scheduled for April 17 in Richmond Virginia, and for August 28-30 in Long Island, New York.