Contact Information: Media Contacts: Kara Ross (202) 683-3117 Kate McGann (202) 683-3143
HOPE NOW Website Enhanced to Provide Homeowners With New Online Assistance Intake Form
Homeowners Now Able to Communicate With Their Servicer 24 Hours a Day
| Source: HOPE NOW Alliance
WASHINGTON, DC--(Marketwire - March 9, 2009) - HOPE NOW, the non-profit alliance of
mortgage servicers, not-for-profit counselors, investors, and other
mortgage market participants, today unveiled a redesigned and enhanced
website (www.HopeNow.com) that provides an important new way for homeowners
with mortgage concerns to connect directly with their mortgage servicer and
receive help faster.
The website features a new online Assistance Intake Form, which a homeowner
may use to submit an application for assistance to his or her servicer.
The homeowner then will receive an acknowledgement of the application in no
more than five to seven business days and so will have confirmation that
the process has begun.
The Assistance Intake Form and enhanced website was developed by HOPE NOW
in preparation for the Obama administration's recently announced Homeowner
Affordability and Stability Plan. The new enhancements will allow HOPE NOW
to handle the expected large increase in the number of homeowners
requesting assistance.
The Assistance Intake Form means that homeowners will be able to transmit
the information needed by their servicer at any time of the day or night.
That will expedite the process, something that will be especially important
to the most at-risk homeowners who often have to act quickly to avoid an
unfortunate outcome.
The new website, which provides interactive ways for homeowners to connect
with servicers and counselors, is an addition to the existing Homeowner's
HOPE™ Hotline (1-888-995-HOPE) created and operated by the Homeownership
Preservation Foundation.
"HOPE NOW's enhanced website will make it even easier for homeowners at
risk of foreclosure to start the workout process and will allow servicers
to assess each homeowner's needs much more quickly," said Faith Schwartz,
HOPE NOW's executive director. "We want to do everything possible to make
sure that every avoidable foreclosure is actually prevented."
"Homeowners will see immediate benefit," said Ed Delgado, senior vice
president at Wells Fargo and chairman of the HOPE NOW Technology Committee
that developed the new Assistance Intake Form. "This is the first broad
industry application to transmit homeowner information directly to
servicers. Not only will this greatly expedite the mortgage assistance
application process, it also will make it possible for servicers to respond
and develop a solution more quickly. This is a win for everyone involved."
To learn more about the Administration's Homeowner Affordability and
Stability Plan, visit www.FinancialStability.gov.
ABOUT HOPE NOW
HOPE NOW is the industry-created alliance of non-profit counselors,
mortgage servicers, investors, and other mortgage market participants that
has developed and is implementing a coordinated plan to help as many
homeowners as possible prevent foreclosure and stay in their homes. For
more information go to www.HopeNow.com
ABOUT THE HOMEOWNERSHIP PRESERVATION FOUNDATION
Founded in 2004, the Homeownership Preservation Foundation (HPF) is a
501(c)(3) nonprofit dedicated to reducing foreclosures and preserving
homeownership for American homeowners. HPF partners with city, county and
state governments; federal government agencies; community-based nonprofit
organizations; and mortgage companies to offer creative solutions to
preserve homeownership. HPF's cornerstone service is the Homeowner's
HOPE™ Hotline, a foreclosure prevention counseling service available in
English, Spanish, and 18 other languages available free to homeowners by
calling 888-995-HOPE. For more information about the Homeownership
Preservation Foundation or the Homeowner's HOPE™ Hotline, visit
www.995hope.org.