Attorney General launches multi-million dollar grant program for foreclosure defense assistance

Jul 28, 2009 3 min read

TALLAHASSEE, FL Attorney General Bill McCollum and The Florida Bar

Foundation today announced a new foreclosure defense assistance program,

funded by money obtained by the Attorney General through a settlement with Countrywide Financial. A total of $4 million will be available over two

years to fund additional lawyer and paralegal positions devoted to

providing free assistance to homeowners facing foreclosures who cannot

afford legal defense. Florida currently has the fourth highest rate of

foreclosures in the nation.

“The high number of foreclosures in Florida has left our homeowners

vulnerable to fraud and desperate for assistance,” said Attorney General

McCollum. “I know that the assistance these attorneys will provide will

mean a world of difference to the homeowners they help.”

The funds are being distributed through The Florida Bar Foundation in the form of annual grants awarded to non-profit organizations that have their

applications approved. The grants will vary in size depending on the

number of foreclosures experienced in a particular area. A total of $2

million is available for distribution this year, and another $2 million

will be available next year. The grants are expected provide the

additional funding from October 1, 2009 through September 30, 2011. The

Attorney General’s Office will participate in the application review

process and will work with The Florida Bar Foundation to award the funds.

The Attorney General was also joined a representative of the Cuban

American Bar Association (CABA) and the Executive Director of Florida

Legal Services, Inc.

“As President of the Cuban American Bar Association, I would like to personally thank Attorney General McCollum for his generosity, exemplary

leadership and dedication to helping Floridians

maintain the American Dream,” said Roland Sanchez-Medina Jr., President of

the Cuban American Bar Association. “The Cuban American Bar Association

and its Pro Bono Project are honored to be among those programs applying

to participate in the Attorney General’s efforts to help Floridians

maintain their homes. If awarded, these funds will help CABA assist low

income Floridians across the state, and particularly those in Miami-Dade,

who are in need of early intervention, counseling and pro bono legal

services.”

“Bill McCollum and the Office of the Attorney General are to be commended

for their support of The Florida Bar Foundation’s mortgage fraud pro bono

attorney program,” said Cristina Alonso, President of Florida Legal

Services, Inc., in a letter to the Attorney General’s Office. “In these

economic times, many families have fallen victim to foreclosure rescue

scams and related fraud. Through this program, legal services

organizations, such as Florida Legal Services, Inc., have an opportunity

to directly assist these families struggling with foreclosures.”

Florida, along with several other states, reached a settlement with Bank

of America, the company which now owns Countrywide Financial, last

October.

Source: Attorney General office