While talk of the housing crisis has subsided recently, thousands of Western New Yorkers are still at risk of foreclosure. The state's Attorney General wants residents to know help is available through a new program.In just the first three months of New York's Home Protection Program (HOPP), Attorney General Eric Schneider said nearly 550 local residents have received assistance. But Schneiderman says more than 4,200 loans are in foreclosure and 7,500 homeowners across the region are at least 90 days delinquent.
"The statistics are grim. But it's not just about the numbers. We are working together with our counterparts to provide other sorts of social services because a foreclosure is not just a blow to the family, it's a blow to the community," Schneiderman said.
Schneiderman says there is evidence foreclosures have a ripple effect on the economy, as housing prices in the neighborhood fall and crime frequently goes up.
A settlement with the mortgage industry's largest banks is funding the HOPP program for the next three years, so Schneiderman says he would like more at-risk home owners to come forward.
"We are encouraging people to tell your friends, tell your neighbors. We're trying to get the word out however we can. The help is available. I'm committed to ensuring that the funding for the help will continue to come," Schneiderman said.
The Attorney General's office and several other local agencies are participating in the program. For more information, residents can call 2-1-1.