SUPERIOR, WIS., MAYOR BRUCE HAGEN AND DULUTH, MINN., MAYOR DON NESS WELCOME HOUSING INDUSTRY PROFESSIONALS AND TROUBLED HOMEOWNERS
Lenders and Nonprofits Team Up to Offer Free Housing Industry Training and Free Foreclosure Prevention Options for Troubled Homeowners

CHICAGO - The United States Department of Housing and Urban Development's (HUD) Milwaukee and Minneapolis Field Offices are teaming up to offer a foreclosure prevention event on Friday June 22, 2012.

This event is in collaboration with Arrowhead Economic Opportunity Agency (AODA), Bank of America, Catholic Charities, Chase Bank, Citi Bank, Community Action Duluth (CAD), Duluth Area Association of Realtors, Fannie Mae, Federal Housing Administration (FHA), GreenPath, Local Initiative Support Corporation (LISC), Lutheran Social Services (LSS), Minnesota Housing Finance Agency, One Roof, US Department of Rural Development, US Department of Veterans Affairs, Wells Fargo Home Mortgage and Wisconsin Housing, Economic Development Authority (WHEDA) and Wisconsin Indianhead Technical College (WITC),

"With local foreclosures continuing, and mortgage "rescue" scams on the rise, more and more homeowners are looking for legitimate assistance and additional resources to help them avoid losing their homes", said Jim Chaplin, HUD's Field Office Director in Wisconsin.

Mayor Don Ness and Mayor Bruce Hagan will welcome event participants who will have the opportunity to meet with lenders and local nonprofit housing counselors. Nonprofit housing counselors will evaluate borrowers' circumstances and help them to understand the options that they may have when they meet with their lender. Lenders will be there to suggest ways to alleviate delinquencies and to offer mortgage options.

Housing industry professionals will have an opportunity to receive free training (accredited for Minnesota Realtors) from their colleagues affiliated with Wisconsin Housing and Economic Development authority (WHEDA)'s, the Veteran's Administration, Rural Development, Lutheran Social Services, GreenPath and Community Action of Duluth

This free joint event, open to the public, will take place at the Wisconsin Indianhead Technical College (WITC), located at 600 North 21st Street, Superior, Wisconsin 54880. Borrowers do not need to but can register for the event by contacting Sheila Ashley or Anita Olson at the numbers below. They can arrive any time between 12:00 and 5:00 PM, and they will receive assistance on a first come, first served basis.

For additional questions regarding the event, or to jump-start the process of getting free, professional assistance, call Sheila Ashley at HUD's Milwaukee Field Office at (414) 935-6603 or Anita Olson at HUD's Minneapolis Field Office at 612-370-3000 x2289.

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HUD's mission is to create strong, sustainable, inclusive communities and quality affordable homes for all. HUD is working to strengthen the housing market to bolster the economy and protect consumers; meet the need for quality affordable rental homes: utilize housing as a platform for improving quality of life; build inclusive and sustainable communities free from discrimination; and transform the way HUD does business. More information about HUD and its programs is available on the Internet at www.hud.gov and espanol.hud.gov.  You can also follow HUD on twitter @HUDnews, on facebook at www.facebook.com/HUD, or sign up for news alerts on HUD's News Listserv.