Attorneys step up to help homeowners deal with mortgage foreclosure

For the past two years, the Nassau County Bar Association, the largest suburban bar association in the country, has been immersed in the huge crisis of mortgage foreclosure in Nassau County. Mortgage foreclosure has hit our county particularly hard. With a population of 1.2 million, Nassau County is ranked as having the 3rd highest filing of mortgage foreclosures in New York State. Seven years ago, the mortgage foreclosure filings for the year were 35 cases. By 2009, the mortgage foreclosure filings exceeded 11,000. That's a more than 3143 % increase in filings. In August 2010, 1 in every 896 housing units received a foreclosure filing-homes from lower and middle income areas as expected but also in the most affluent zip codes in the country. Fortunately, we had the foresight to see this problem as an oncoming tsunami, and quickly mobilized to meet it head on. In 2009, we partnered with the Homeownership Center of the Nassau County Department of Housing and Homeless Services, externs from Hofstra Law School serving in the Nassau County Attorney's Office, Nassau/Suffolk Law Services, Nassau County District Attorney's Office, New York State Attorney General's Office, and launched free monthly mortgage foreclosure legal consultation clinics. Residents caught in the growing mortgage foreclosure crisis can come to the bar association to meet with volunteer attorneys one-on-one, and get immediate help and assistance from all these agencies. The object of the clinic was to dispel misinformation and confusion and to give them guidance as to what to do to save their homes. Since launching this project, we have helped guide more than 700 residents who were facing the loss of their primary residence. And we have received state-wide recognition for this groundbreaking program. In January 2010, the association responded to a request from the courts to provide volunteer legal representation to homeowners at the federally-mandated court settlement conferences. Frequently, homeowners who went to these conferences without legal representation had no idea why they were there. Only the bank's attorney was present at the conference and the homeowner was at the bank's mercy. Presently, Nassau holds eight court mandated sessions each week for 35 to 75 homeowners per session, and we have more than 200 attorneys who have volunteered to help them. In 2009, 79% of the total scheduled appearances defaulted. To date, as a result of having volunteer attorneys, that total percentage of defaults has decreased to 27%. The Nassau County Bar Association has a strong history of volunteerism. Our monthly mortgage foreclosure clinics will continue as long as they are needed, as we continue our tradition of making a difference in the lives of Nassau residents. Marc Gann is a criminal attorney and is president of the Nassau County Bar Association, Mineola, N.Y.