Senator Kane & Representative Williams To Host Mortgage Assistance Seminar

Free Public Seminar To Be Held In Watertown On Tuesday, September 22nd

Senator Rob Kane (R-32) and Representative Sean Williams (R-68) are urging those interested in learning more about state sponsored mortgage assistance programs to attend their upcoming free public seminar.

The mortgage assistance seminar will be held from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m., Tuesday, September 22, 2009 at Swift Middle School, 250 Colonial Street in the Oakville section of Watertown. For more information, contact Peggy Deschenes of the Senate Republican Office at [email protected], or 1-800-842-1421.

“This year, the General Assembly passed legislation that expands the mortgage assistance programs available to Connecticut residents who have fallen behind on their mortgages, or who are finding it difficult to keep up with the payments. During the seminar, we will talk about both the Emergency Mortgage Assistance Program (EMAP) and the Connecticut Fair Alternative Mortgage Lending Initiative and Education Services Program (CT FAMLIES), which are administered by the Connecticut Housing Finance Authority (CHFA),” said Senator Kane.

“Although some financial analysts believe the mortgage crisis is abating and fewer people are in danger of losing their homes, for homeowners who lost their jobs during the recession and are struggling to stay current with their payments, falling behind and facing foreclosure is still a very real and frightening prospect. If you are facing foreclosure, I urge you to attend our mortgage assistance seminar. Help is available and, as legislators who supported these measures, we want to do whatever we can to help you keep your homes,” said Representative Williams.

Senator Kane and Representative Williams will explain the new state law that, among other things, makes Connecticut’s foreclosure mediation program mandatory until June 30, 2010. Furthermore, the new law places additional licensing and educational requirements on mortgage brokers and lenders, and expands the state Banking Commissioner’s authority to investigate and enforce state banking laws. Representatives from the state Department of Banking, CHFA, The Workplace, Inc., HUD Hartford and other housing counseling agencies will be in attendance to present information about their programs and services.

Both legislators urge anyone who cannot attend the seminar to contact their respective legislative offices for information about the state’s mortgage assistance programs. Senator Kane can be reached by calling 1-800-842-1421 or via e-mail to [email protected]. Representative Williams can be reached by calling 1-800-842-8270, or via e-mail to [email protected].