8. HRSR 10-06-2008 - Laserfiche WebLink

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WHAT LQCAL GOVERNMENT CAN DO TQ ADDRESS FORECLOSURES Fareclasure P~eventian and Education Early Outreach to Foreclosure Impacted Households: Partner with the Minnesota Home Ownership Center to implement a Foreclosure Prevention Education Campaign, including hosting borrower's workshops for consumers, inserting foreclosure prevention information in tax statements and utility bills, encouraging agencies encountering consumers in crisis to have their agency staff attend a Foreclosure Prevention Training and to sign up for the Home Ownership Center's listserve. For more information on workshops contact the Minnesota Home Ownership Center at 651- 659-9336 or http://www.hocmn.org/ Actively Provide Local Referrals: Refer homeowners and renters to trusted local and regional foreclosure prevention and credit counseling organizations. Reach Out To Local Renters in Foreclosed Units: Partner with HOME Line, Legal Aid, and Southern Minnesota Regional Legal Services (SMRLSI on their outreach campaign to renters. Direct renters to these organizations to receive free legal advice about their rights and options during foreclosure. For example, HOME Line at 1- 866-866-3546 (or see http://www.homelinemn.or~ and see Minnesota attorney Generals Office for rights and duties of landlords and tenants at http•//www ag state.mn.us/Consumer/housing/lt/default.asp ) Provide Helpful Literature and Web Links: Distribute materials through city departments, utilities, and local non-profits, and provide links on your city web site to trusted foreclosure prevention counseling resources such as Minnesota Home (Jwnerslup (;enter, [ I01IF:Line tenant hotline at (866) 866-3546, the Attorney General's Office, and lawhelpmn.org about the availability of services and other resources to assist home owners and renters.. How Cities Are Communicating About Local Foreclosures • Post foreclosure information on city website • Insert information in utility bills • Host a foreclosure educational workshop • Provide counselors at city hall once a week • Use door to door outreach techniques • Use local media: cable TV and newspapers • Work with local community and faith organizations to expand outreach in targeted areas. • Designate city staff and neighborhood leaders as foreclosure information coordinators. Promote "Don't Borrow Trouble" Consumer Education: Don't Borrow Trouble is a public education initiative that seeks to educate families and individuals about how to avoid predatory lending scams. The Don't Borrom Trouble help line has been established at 612-312-2020 to offer families a safe place to call befare they sign anything that puts their home at risk (http://www.dontborrowtroublemn.org/01.htm.) Foster Pre-Purchase Counseling for New Homebuyers: Partner with the :Minnesota Home Ownership Center. and its member agency in your area to implement a communications strategy that encourages prospective homes owners to attend pre-purchase training'- or seek assistance from a trusted advisor before signing any documents related to their homes. Increase Access to Affordable Financing: Publicize lending tools that may assist home owners in distress, including home repair funds.