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FORECLOSURE PREVENTION PRO BONO PROJECT In the third quarter of 2009, Maryland ranked 12th in terms of the highest foreclosure concentration nationwide, and recorded the highest foreclosure concentration in the region. This represents an increase in the State’s foreclosure rate and there are still thousands of Maryland citizens falling behind on their mortgage payments and at risk of foreclosure. There were over 14,800 foreclosure events in Maryland in just the third quarter of 2009. One in every 157 homes in Maryland is in some stage of foreclosure. These homeowners need your help. In 2008 the Maryland legislature enacted emergency legislation related to the foreclosure process to offer greater opportunities for homeowners to preserve their homes. New notice requirements, additional defenses and modifications to the process itself may enable families and individuals a chance to either prevent foreclosure where feasible or mitigate their losses. They need legal counsel, however, to assist them in the process. Lawyers who enroll in the Foreclosure Prevention Pro Bono Project will receive free training and will, in turn, be required to accept at least one pro bono foreclosure case in which attorneys will negotiate with mortgage servicers to help homeowners avoid foreclosure. Training will cover Maryland’s revised foreclosure process laws, recent amendments to the Maryland Rules regarding foreclosure actions, components of all relevant mortgage loan documents, President Obama’s Making Home Affordable Loan Modification Program, and strategies for negotiating with servicers. Pro bono attorneys who accept pro bono cases through the Project will receive malpractice insurance and mentoring support. Additionally, prior to taking a case, attorneys will have an opportunity to gain practical experience through volunteering at foreclosure solutions workshops where they will work with experienced attorneys to provide on-site legal advice to homeowners. Attorneys can receive the training via webcast or a video replay class. Download the Training Registration Form to select your preference, and fax, mail, or email to: Pro Bono Resource Center of Maryland For more information on volunteering for the Project or sponsoring a Foreclosure Solutions Workshop in your community, contact Jennifer Larrabee, Esq., Project Manager, at 410-837-9379 or 1-800-396-1274 or jlarrabee@probonomd.org. Foreclosure Prevention Resources for Homeowners Maryland HOPE (Home Owners Preserving Equity) Hotline *Your housing counselor can determine whether you are eligible for referral to a volunteer attorney through Maryland’s Foreclosure Prevention Pro Bono Project. The attorney will help your counselor negotiate with your lender. You must receive housing counseling before you can be assessed for eligibility for referral to a volunteer attorney in this Project. www.mdhope.org www.makinghomeaffordable.gov Commissioner of Financial Regulation Complaint Hotline Legal Aid Senior Hotline Foreclosure Solutions Workshops Homeowners can obtain brief consultation and advice from a pro bono attorney at a Foreclosure Solutions Workshop. See below for a current schedule of workshops and pre-registration information. Pre-registration guarantees free legal consultation. You do not have to be in foreclosure to obtain a free consultation with a volunteer attorney. Bring all loan documents, mortgage default/foreclosure documents and monthly household budget to your consultation. Schedule of Workshops:
* Feel free to contact the Pro Bono Resource Center at (410) 837-9379 or (800) 396-1274 for updated information. The following links contain helpful written materials for homeowners facing foreclosure and the attorneys assisting them.
The Foreclosure Prevention Pro Bono Project is coordinated by the Pro Bono Resource Center of Maryland in collaboration with:
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