FT. LAUDERDALE, Fla.,
June 9, 2015 /PRNewswire/
-- Today, the NAACP Florida State Conference announced the
second in a series of local homeowner outreach events held in
partnership with Ocwen Financial Corporation (NYSE:OCN), a leading
financial services holding company. The Help & Hope for
Homeowners event, scheduled for Saturday,
June 20, will provide Florida homeowners with opportunities to learn
about loan modification programs, including principal reduction,
which can help make their homes more affordable.
Following a very successful series debut in Chicago, the event will bring Ocwen customers
together with United States Department of Housing and Urban
Development (HUD) approved financial counselors and Ocwen Home
Retention Agents, who can explore with homeowners potential loan
modification options.
In Florida specifically, the
situation is dire. According to data collected by RealtyTrac, just
this past April, one out of every 425 Florida housing units was in
foreclosure. In 2014, the state had the highest foreclosure rate in
the country.
"A recent RealtyTrac study found that almost one in four
Floridians were 'seriously underwater' on their mortgage. While
it's a slight improvement over the previous quarter, it's still a
staggering statistic, and one that we hope to improve," said
Adora Obi Nweze, President of the
NAACP Florida State Conference. "The NAACP is committed to helping
underwater borrowers by improving their relationships with
financial institutions. As part of that commitment, and in order to
provide borrowers with the financial information and education they
need, we've partnered with Ocwen - a mortgage servicer we know is
committed to helping homeowners find real solutions to their
mortgage and housing challenges."
For the NAACP, the partnership with Ocwen is a natural fit.
Foreclosures have been, and continue to be, an epidemic in
communities of color since the housing crash of 2008. It's a
troubling reality that African Americans and other under-served
groups continue to experience disproportionately high levels of
unemployment, poverty, and foreclosures.
On Saturday, June 20, homeowners
in Florida whose loans are
serviced by Ocwen are encouraged to come to the Help & Hope for
Homeowners event at the Urban League of Broward County (560 NW 27th Avenue,
Fort Lauderdale, FL) where housing
counselors and Ocwen Home Retention Agents will be available to
meet with homeowners anytime between 9:00
a.m. – 3:00 p.m. to learn
about loan modification programs, including principal reductions,
that can help make their homes more affordable.
To get the most out of the meetings with the counselors and home
retention agents, homeowners are asked to bring:
- Photo ID (Required)
- Two most recent pay stubs, profit & loss statements, and/or
bonus or commission records
- Two most recent bank statements
- Most recent tax return
- Latest utility bill
- A list of current expenses (or a budget or copies of their
bills)
- Documents related to other mortgages, HOA dues, property taxes,
and/or homeowner insurance
Additional events will be held over the coming months in
Maryland and New York where the effects of the 2008 housing
crisis are still being felt.
For more information, or to jumpstart the process before the
event, Ocwen homeowners are encouraged to call the NAACP-dedicated
hotline at (855) 459-2514 or email the NAACP Florida State
Conference at info@FLNAACP.com.
About NAACP Florida State Conference
For more than a
century the National Association for the Advancement of Colored
People has worked to ensure the political, educational, social, and
economic equality of rights of all persons and to eliminate
race-based discrimination. Inspired by the force and commitment of
The Call of 1909, which denounced the growing oppression of people
of color and mobilized thousands to work to bring this
discrimination to an end, the NAACP seeks to establish a strategic
direction as it embarks on developing The New Call for the 21st
Century.
To view the original version on PR Newswire,
visit:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/naacp-and-ocwen-to-host-ft-lauderdale-help--hope-for-homeowners-event-to-help-borrowers-improve-their-mortgage-situation-300096292.html
SOURCE NAACP Florida State Conference