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Leggett Urges Homeowners to Attend One-on-One

Foreclosure Prevention Counseling Event;

County and City of Gaithersburg Sponsor October 1 Event

County Executive Isiah Leggett today joined Richard Nelson, director of the County’s Department of Housing and Community Affairs, and local homeowners to urge residents who are falling behind in their mortgage payments or who are facing foreclosure to attend a free one-on-one foreclosure prevention counseling event on Saturday, October 1 in Gaithersburg. Co-sponsored by the City of Gaithersburg and the County’s Housing Fair Planning Committee, the event is scheduled from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Bohrer Park Activity Center, located at Summit Hall Farm, 506 S. Frederick Avenue.

Homeowners will receive one-on-one foreclosure prevention counseling offered by trained representatives from four County-approved housing counseling agencies—Asian-American Homeownership Counseling, HomeFree USA, Housing Initiative Partnership and the Latino Economic Development Corporation. Leggett also urged homeowners to beware of companies promising help with loan modification for a fee.

“Unfortunately, at a time when homeowners facing foreclosure are under a huge amount of stress, there has been a proliferation of unscrupulous scam artists who prey on them, sometimes charging them thousands of

dollars to get a loan modification service that never arrives,” said Leggett. “The organizations that we have partnered with are certified and very knowledgeable about helping homeowners. Most importantly, this counseling service is free.”

Free legal advice on housing-related issues will also be available at the event. Attorneys from Civil Justice, Maryland Legal Aid and the Pro Bono Legal Resource Center of Maryland will be on hand to answer questions. Representatives from the Office of Congressman Chris Van Hollen will also be present to assist homeowners.

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Media Contact: Mary Anderson, 240-777-6534