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Today’s Producers
Jennifer Peterson WebJunction C it M Kendra Morgan WebJunction P M Community Manager Program Manager
Today’s Panelists
Joe Manion
Public Services Division
Nicola Viana
Homeownership Specialist Manager, Washington County Library Specialist, Washington County, Housing and Redevelopment Authority
Brian Huffman
Washington County Law Lib i
Randall Ryder
consumerlawyer.mn Librarian
Melinda Ludwiczak
MELSA Project Manager
Libraries, Jobs and Small Business Webinar Series 2011
WebJunction and MELSA, the Metropolitan Library Service Agency, Minnesota
Metropolitan Library Service Agency St P l Mi t
Serves 8 Library Systems Serves 8 Library Systems
Anoka County Library Ramsey County Library Carver County Library
Carver County Library
Dakota County Library Scott County Library Hennepin County Library W ashington County Library p y y g y y
MELSA J
MELSA J
T k F T k F Task Force Task Force Service Philosophy Service Philosophy p y p y
C ll b t ith it t Collaborate with community partners Establish a seamless entry system Establish a seamless entry system W here every door is the right door W here every door is the right door
Public Libraries and Public Libraries and the Tough Economy the Tough Economy
f f Lack of employment leads to financial difficulties. Role for public libraries – trustworthy consumer information
Home Foreclosure Information Law Library W orkshops
Today’s Panelists
Nicola Viana
Homeownership Specialist
Joe Manion
Public Services Division Specialist, Washington County, Housing and Redevelopment Manager, Washington County Library Authority
Randall Ryder
consumerlawyer.mn
Brian Huffman
Washington County Law Lib i Librarian
Foreclosure Prevention
Joe Manion
Public Services Division Manager, Washington C t Lib
Foreclosure Prevention Legal Resources
County Library
Foreclosure rate doubled Foreclosure rate doubled from 2006 to 2010
Washington County rate tripled
f 60% of households working with a counselor avoided foreclosure in 2009
Barbara Dacy, Executive Director, Washington County HRA
Foreclosure prevention workshops
44 workshops as of May 2011
Librarians lending a hand
Legal information for people in crisis
Library partnered with Law Library to inform people of their legal options
Monthly workshops through January 2012 y p g y
Schedule
Reserve
Publicize
Present
Evaluate
Process
Library provides facilities HRA & Attorneys provide expertise
Attendance
January 2010 through March 2011 380 attendees 380 attendees 280 households
Foreclosure Prevention Foreclosure Prevention Library Workshops Library Workshops Library Workshops Library Workshops
Nicola Viana
Homeownership Specialist Specialist, Washington County, Housing and Redevelopment Authority
What is a Housing and What is a Housing and R d l A h i ? R d l A h i ? Redevelopment Authority? Redevelopment Authority?
Promote community and economic development
Promote community and economic development
Provide and maintain affordable, decent and safe housing safe housing
Educate and counsel people throughout the homeownership process homeownership process p p p p
Minnesota Home Ownership Center Minnesota Home Ownership Center
www.hocmn.org www.hocmn.org
Provides funding, training, and guidance to:
Provides funding, training, and guidance to:
Provides funding, training, and guidance to:
Provides funding, training, and guidance to:
Over 50 agencies throughout Minnesota
Over 50 agencies throughout Minnesota
Deliver homeownership education and
Deliver homeownership education and foreclosure counseling foreclosure counseling foreclosure counseling foreclosure counseling
Foreclosure Prevention Services Foreclosure Prevention Services
Free and confidential
f l foreclosure process
counseling counseling
weigh pros and cons
A id d t ti
as needed as needed
How the Workshops Began How the Workshops Began How the Workshops Began How the Workshops Began
Hennepin County Libraries, Minnesota
Home Ownership Center came to us with idea
Home Ownership Center came to us with idea
Nov 2009: Met with Washington County Library
Seemed a natural fit Seemed a natural fit
Seemed a natural fit
Seemed a natural fit
Researched models across the country with the help of NeighborWorks help of NeighborWorks help of NeighborWorks help of NeighborWorks
Format Format Format Format
60 minute presentation
Weekly at libraries in Washington County Washington County
Topics:
Foreclosure process
Foreclosure process
Foreclosure process
Foreclosure process
Options for keeping and
Options for keeping and leaving the home leaving the home Ti f t lki t l d Ti f t lki t l d
Tips for talking to lender
Tips for talking to lender
Predatory practices
Predatory practices
How counseling works
How counseling works
g
g
Homeowner Steps Homeowner Steps Homeowner Steps Homeowner Steps
1.
Register for workshop. (with HRA or walk (with HRA or walk in) in) (with HRA, or walk (with HRA, or walk-in) in) 2 Complete application 2 Complete application
and gather documents. and gather documents.
with a counselor at the with a counselor at the k h k h workshop. workshop.
Benefits to the Model Benefits to the Model Benefits to the Model Benefits to the Model
Increased efficacy of counseling sessions
Increased efficacy of counseling sessions
More efficient use of time
More efficient use of time Better understanding of foreclosure process Better understanding of foreclosure process
Better understanding of foreclosure process
Better understanding of foreclosure process
Gives counselors time to prep
Gives counselors time to prep
I d l I d l t fi i l lit t fi i l lit
Increased long-
term financial literacy
Greater number of homeowners served
Decreased sense of isolation
Benefits to Partnering with the Library Benefits to Partnering with the Library
Trusted resource in the community
Library is a critical resource for homeowners facing foreclosure homeowners facing foreclosure
Books, magazines and newspapers
Books, magazines and newspapers g p p g p p
Computer, internet, and email access
Computer, internet, and email access
Access to resources and professionals
Access to resources and professionals p
Ability to help with outreach and marketing
Great venues and space for groups
Great venues and space for groups
Aug 19 2010 Aug 19 2010 – June 9 2011 June 9 2011 Aug, 19 2010 Aug, 19 2010 June, 9 2011 June, 9 2011
Location Number of Attendees Number of Households Cottage Grove 56 43 Forest Lake 63 44 Forest Lake 63 44 Oakdale 68 52 Woodbury 82 60 Woodbury 82 60 Total 269 199 Total 269 199
Find the Trusted Counseling Find the Trusted Counseling Agency in Your Area: Agency in Your Area: Agency in Your Area: Agency in Your Area:
Minnesota: Minnesota Homeownership Center:
Minnesota: Minnesota Homeownership Center: p www.hocmn.org www.hocmn.org or (651) 659
9336, (866) 462-
6466
HUD
HUD-
approved counseling agency: pp g g y pp g g y www.hud.gov/offices/hsg/sfh/hcc/hcs.cfm www.hud.gov/offices/hsg/sfh/hcc/hcs.cfm
Agencies who receive NFMC (Federal) funding
Agencies who receive NFMC (Federal) funding
Agencies who receive NFMC (Federal) funding
Agencies who receive NFMC (Federal) funding (National Foreclosure Mitigation Counseling) (National Foreclosure Mitigation Counseling) www.findaforeclosurecounselor.org/network/nfmc_loo www.findaforeclosurecounselor.org/network/nfmc_loo kup/ kup/ kup/ kup/
National Foundation for Credit Counseling
National Foundation for Credit Counseling f www.nfcc.org www.nfcc.org
Other Strategies Other Strategies Other Strategies Other Strategies
Webinars, for rural areas
Webinars, for rural areas
Have flyers posted and bookmarks available
Encompass several personal finance issues
Encompass several personal finance issues
Invite a counselor to hold “office hours”
Add local agency and resources to your website
Add local agency and resources to your website ***Strategies depend on agency’s staff and ***Strategies depend on agency’s staff and ***Strategies depend on agency s staff and ***Strategies depend on agency s staff and capacity capacity
Who Could Benefit from Who Could Benefit from Foreclosure Counseling? Foreclosure Counseling?
Concerned about their mortgage payment mortgage payment g g p y g g p y
Missed payments
In the redemption period
In the redemption period
Experienced a change in their circumstance: their circumstance: t e c cu sta ce t e c cu sta ce
Job loss
Job loss
Divorce
Divorce
Death in the family
Death in the family
Questions? Questions? Questions? Questions?
Contact Information: Contact Information: Contact Information: Contact Information:
Nicola Viana Nicola Viana Nicola Viana Nicola Viana Washington County HRA Washington County HRA 321 Broadway Ave St Paul Park MN 55071 321 Broadway Ave St Paul Park MN 55071 321 Broadway Ave, St. Paul Park MN 55071 321 Broadway Ave, St. Paul Park MN 55071 651 651-
458-
0936, ext 553 nviana@wchra com nviana@wchra com nviana@wchra.com nviana@wchra.com
Legal Workshops: Partnership Legal Workshops: Partnership Building
Brian R. Huffman June 21, 2011
Brian Huffman
Washington County Law Librarian Librarian
Locating Legal Partners
L l L l Aid O
(LawHelp.org)
http://www.flickr.com/photos/theaterculture/4721293140/
Hot Topics
Di
p g
http://www.flickr.com/photos/vblibrary/4480092264/
Presentation Models
W bi
http://www.flickr.com/photos/deltamike/1450214894/
Washington County Experience Washington County Experience
Applied for a LSTA Grant with State Library Services
Obtained $25,000 grant to purchase laptops, printer, projector, software and carrying case; provided in kind contributions of hours, brochure printing marketing and transportation brochure printing, marketing and transportation Program: Librarians Lending a Hand; Set up monthly legal topics with goal to teach public how to find and use online legal resources goal to teach public how to find and use online legal resources Obtained speakers through local Legal Aid group Advertised online, local newspapers and in libraries Registration/Space Planning similar to HRA workshops mentioned by Joe Manion
Cautionary Tale: Librarians & the U th i d P ti f L Unauthorized Practice of Law
Role of Librarian is to guide patrons to legal resources and partners – See Public Librarians and Access to Justice website for useful information.
Contact Information
Brian Huffman Washington County Law Library Washington County Law Library 651‐430‐6330 brian huffman@co washington mn us brian.huffman@co.washington.mn.us
Consumer debt issues
Randall Ryder l www.consumerlawyer.mn
I sue debt collectors and defend consumers in debt collection lawsuits
Randall Ryder
consumerlawyer.mn
Down economy = more debt Down economy more debt
More debt
– More collection attempts by debt collectors
More debt collection lawsuits
– More debt collection lawsuits – Debt collection happens before lawsuits
Mi t l
– 58,000 registered debt collectors – Tens of thousands of debt collection lawsuits
every year
Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA) (FDCPA)
Protects consumers against abusive,
deceptive, and unfair debt collection
– Number of personal bankruptcies – Marital instability – Loss of jobs – Invasions of personal privacy
Common FDCPA Violations Common FDCPA Violations
Anything that is:
– Untrue, unfair, undignified, or disrespectful
g g
FDCPA Protects Consumers FDCPA Protects Consumers
Gives every consumer the right to truth, fairness, dignity, and respect
the consumer’s attorney fees + costs
C t f l
– Consumer gets a free lawyer
– Statutory damages up to $1,000 – Actual damages – TBD by jury
Resources Resources
FTC debt collection factsheet
– http:/ / www.ftc.gov/ bcp/ edu/ pubs/ consum
er/ credit/ cre18.shtm
– http:/ / www.ftc.gov/ multimedia/ video/ cred
p / / g / / / it/ debt/ debt-collection.shtm
– http:/ / www.ag.state.mn.us/ Brochures/ pub
DebtCollectionFactSheet.pdf
Resources Resources
Beware of blogs and other random internet information
– www.consumerlawyer.mn
t t bl
– www.caveatemptorblog.com
Remember: free attorney + $ Remember: free attorney + $
National Assoc. Consumer Advocates
– http:/ / www.naca.net/ find-attorney
– www.consumerlawyer.mn
– May not take case, but can refer
Debt collection lawsuits Debt collection lawsuits
How collection works:
– Company hires debt collectors to collect debt
Collection fails
– Collection fails – Company writes off debt, sells to a debt buyer
– Law firm gets the file sues consumer on
Law firm gets the file, sues consumer on behalf of the debt buyer
Get served = get legal advice Get served get legal advice
Get served time limit to answer
D i hi l
Good news: worth fighting Good news: worth fighting
Usually involves 3 party
– Not the original creditor
– Forward flow agreement – they agree to not
receive the evidence they need
Smoking gun or squirtgun? Smoking gun or squirtgun?
Crime scene: chain of evidence
– Officer, locker, lab, storage, court
– Creditor, somebody, debt buyer, somebody,
debt buyer debt buyer debt buyer, debt buyer
– Nobody knows where it’s been or who has
touched it touched it
Doing nothing = you lose Doing nothing you lose
Many consumers do nothing
– Unknown company
Don’t recognize debt/ think they paid it
– Don t recognize debt/ think they paid it – Not their debt
Thi k l it i f k
– Think lawsuit is fake – Disagree with amount
$2 000 d bt $6 000 ith i t t d f
Resources Resources
Need to answer free answer form
– Minnesota only: www.consumerlawyer.mn
– Check NACA attorney websites
htt / / t/ fi d tt
– Contact legal aid organizations
htt / / l h l / MN/ i d f
http:/ / www.smrls.org/
Resources Resources
Beware of blogs and other random internet information
– www.consumerlawyer.mn
t t bl
– www.caveatemptorblog.com
Melinda Ludwiczak
MELSA Project Manager
Stay Involved
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