DuPage County Hosts Mortgage Relief Event

The following is a press release from DuPage County:

DuPage County will host Governor Pat Quinn’s Mortgage Relief Event on Saturday, Aug. 25.
 
County Board member Dirk Enger (District 6) said the program will provide homeowners with helpful advice about mortgage financing, foreclosure prevention, legal rights and credit counseling.
 
“The event will provide an opportunity for homeowners to sit down with a representative from a major lender and discuss their options. At the end of the day, our goal is to help homeowners prevent a foreclosure,” said Enger. “Many residents have slipped through the financial cracks, caused by this recession. The forum is one of many ways this board has addressed the needs and concerns of DuPage County residents.”
 
More than 6,400 foreclosure cases are pending in DuPage County and an average of 500 new cases are filed each month, according to Debra Olson, executive director of the DuPage Homeownership Center in Wheaton. The non-profit agency provides comprehensive housing counseling and financial literacy services for DuPage residents and will assist homeowners during the Mortgage Relief Event.
 
“The sluggish economy has taken a toll on families. Over 65 percent of homeowners who come to us for help have defaulted on their loans because they are either unemployed or underemployed,” said Olson. “The DuPage Homeownership Center can help homeowners cut through the red tape of their mortgage lenders and provide assistance in a variety of programs such as Illinois Hardest Hit, mortgage modification and forbearance.”
 
During the Mortgage Relief Event, the Illinois Housing Development Authority (IHDA) will provide information regarding the Illinois Hardest Hit program. The state program offers temporary assistance to homeowners faced with unemployment or underemployment to catch up on their mortgage and save their homes. DuPage Homeownership Center counselors will assist homeowners applying for Hardest Hit to get through the process.
 
The free Mortgage Relief Event will be held from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 25, at the DuPage County Government Center Auditorium located at 421 N. County Farm Road, Wheaton. Registration will be held until noon.
 
Homeowners need to bring the following items to the event: mortgage statement; 2010 and 2011 W-2 tax return with all schedules; copy of rental agreement (if necessary); two months of recent paystubs; budget of household expenses; documentation of other income; two months of recent bank statements; recent utility bill; profit/loss, if self-employed (last six months).
 
To register for the event or for more Mortgage Relief Project information, visit www.idfpr.com or call (800) 532-8785.
 
For those who are unable to attend the event, the DuPage Homeownership Center provides comprehensive housing counseling and financial literacy services throughout the year. For more information about the DuPage Homeownership Center, visit www.dhoc.org or call (630) 260-2500.