Tuesday, June 15, 2010

NeighborWorks America Reflects on 2010 NeighborWorks Week

More than 320 events celebrated local communities and informed consumers June 5-12, 2010

During the 2010 NeighborWorks Week (June 5-12) NeighborWorks America and local NeighborWorks organizations held more than 320 community revitalization and 150 loan modification scam awareness events nationwide.

The theme for the 27th anniversary of NeighborWorks Week was informing homeowners on how to identify, avoid and report mortgage modification scams. The educational events ranged from canvassing neighborhoods with tip-sheets to holding one-on-one and group workshops about reputable mortgage modification programs.

One such event took place on Friday, June 4, hosted by Neighborhood Housing Services of New York City, a NeighborWorks affiliate. Held in Times Square, the event featured dozens of volunteers talking to thousands of people, and NeighborWorks loan modification scam Alert campaign materials were featured on the Times Square jumbotrons.

Tents were also set up where homeowners could talk to NeighborWorks representatives about scams, foreclosures, mortgage payments or any other issues associated with homeownership. This event raised awareness of loan modification scams, educated New Yorkers on how to buy their first home and celebrated the surrounding communities.

In New Jersey, Mayor Cory Booker of Newark, joined NeighborWorks America and the Newark-Essex Foreclosure Task Force to launch the Loan Scam Alert Campaign for Community Outreach Day in Newark. The event was held at a vacant, foreclosed home, which is to be re-developed into a community park.

In addition to the mortgage modification scam prevention events nationwide, NeighborWorks organizations held community celebrations and hands-on community building activities, including home repair and painting events, landscaping projects and mural painting.

Pictures, videos and more stories can be viewed here. More information is also available in the NeighborWorks newsroom.