Workshop gathers faith and community leaders from San Gabriel Valley area
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07/21/10
Fuller's Office for Urban Initiatives partnered with the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC), Division of Supervision and Consumer Protection, to host a free workshop for faith and community leaders Tuesday, July 20, on preventing foreclosure and loan modification scams. More than 60 attended the event, which was designed to help the faith community be informed on this issue and be directed to legitimate assistance.
Organizers of the event claimed that this was a particularly significant issue in light of the current economic crisis, and that people of faith need to know how to help other Christians in housing crises. "Oftentimes the church is called upon to know things beyond the spiritual realm," said Scott Cormode, Hugh De Pree Professor of Leadership Development at Fuller, in his introductory remarks.
The majority of the workshop consisted of presentations from five panelist speakers, each working in various government branches, non-profit social service organizations, or community development agencies. The discussion was moderated by Ray Brewer, field office director of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.
Each presenter emphasized the importance of recognizing the "red flags" of loan scams or loan scam artists. They advised homeowners to be wary of people who make any sort of guarantee, ask for money up front without any services being done, ask homeowners to pay their mortgage to them, say that they are backed by an attorney, or seem to prefer phone calls instead of face-to-face meetings.
"The most important thing is to make sure to talk to the right person the first time out," said Brewer. The panelists offered a variety of resources, phone numbers, and websites that would give homeowners legitimate assistance and home counseling.
In addition to Brewer, panelists included Heather Peters, Deputy Secretary for Business Regulation and Housing with the California Business, Transportation, and Housing Agency; Dawnnesha Smith, supervising investigaor with the Los Angeles County Department of Consumer Affairs; Jennifer Brennan, staff attorney with the Federal Trade Commission; Greg Smith, staff attorney with Public Counsel; and Lori Gay, president and chief executive of Los Angeles Neighborhood Housing Services.
Lori Gay concluded the panel discussion by exhorting the audience to be "truth-tellers" to their congregations, their friends, and their family members in a world full of deception. The rest of the workshop consisted of questions and answers from the audience, a call to action, and a closing benediction.