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TALLAHASSEE, FL - November 9, 2009 - (RealEstateRama) -- Attorney General Bill McCollum today announced that his office has filed a lawsuit against two Central Florida companies and their owner over allegations they charged up-front fees for foreclosure rescue-related services. National Payment Modification Company and The Bostonian Group, LLC, which conducts business under the name People’s First, allegedly charge up to $2,500 in up-front fees to homeowners trying to rescue their homes from foreclosure.

TALLAHASSEE, FL - November 2, 2009 - (RealEstateRama) -- Florida Housing was recently awarded $1,805,370 to support foreclosure prevention counseling efforts in the State of Florida. The much-needed boost will bolster efforts to provide additional foreclosure counseling to area homeowners in danger of foreclosure.“Needless to say, we are very pleased to have been awarded these funds from NeighborWorks® America to expand and build upon the efforts to help those facing foreclosure in our state,” said Steve Auger, Florida Housing’s executive director. “Through the continued partnership with our sub-grantees, we will work diligently to assist as many homeowners as possible.”

TALLAHASSEE, LF - October 20, 2009 - (RealEstateRama) -- Florida CFO Alex Sink today highlighted two initiatives she started to bring real, tangible help to Florida homeowners facing foreclosure, and heard from community groups and homeowners who are on the frontlines of tackling the state’s housing crisis.

Washington, DC - October 9, 2009 - (RealEstateRama) -- Congressman Vern Buchanan (FL-13) will hold a foreclosure assistance workshop on Saturday, October 10, 2009. Lenders, federal agencies, and local housing and counseling agencies will help assist residents of Florida’s 13th District from 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. in the student union at State College of Florida, 5840 26th St. West, Bradenton, Florida

Lenders, Federal and Local Agencies to Provide Free Assistance October 10. Washington, DC - September 28, 2009 - (RealEstateRama) -- Congressman Vern Buchanan (FL-13) announced today that he will hold a foreclosure assistance workshop on Saturday, October 10, 2009. In attendance will be several lenders, federal agencies, and local housing and counseling agencies, which will be available to assist residents of Florida’s 13th District from 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. in the student union at State College of Florida, 5840 26th St. West, Bradenton, Florida.

TALLAHASSEE, FL - September 3, 2009 - (RealEstateRama) -- Attorney General Bill McCollum and the Florida Bar Foundation today awarded approximately $700,000 in grants to several South Florida non-profit organizations to fund free foreclosure legal defense work. A total of $4 million will be available statewide over two years to fund attorneys and paralegals who will provide free legal assistance to homeowners facing foreclosure. The grants were funded by the Attorney General’s settlement with Countrywide Financial last October.

TALLAHASSEE, FL - August 31, 2009 - (RealEstateRama) -- Attorney General Bill McCollum and The Florida Bar Foundation today awarded $84,000 to the Legal Aid Society of the Orange County Bar Association, Inc. to be used for a new foreclosure defense assistance program. The program is 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.

TALLAHASSEE, FL - August 24, 2009 - (RealEstateRama) -- Attorney General Bill McCollum sued a Kissimmee-based company over allegations it targeted Hispanics in a foreclosure rescue fraud scheme. JPB Consulting Inc. and its president, Juan P. Bordali, allegedly charged up front fees of more than $1,000 per customer to homeowners about to lose their homes, but never performed any services. Charging fees up front before completing foreclosure rescue services is a direct violation of Florida’s Foreclosure Rescue Fraud Prevention Act.

TALLAHASSEE, FL - July 28, 2009 - (RealEstateRama) -- 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

TALLAHASSEE, FL - July 22, 2009 - (RealEstateRama) -- Florida CFO Alex Sink today announced that the Florida Attorneys Saving Homes program, which pairs volunteer lawyers with Florida homeowners facing foreclosure, has produced almost triple the amount of successful outcomes since changes initiated with CFO Sink’s leadership this spring. CFO Sink cheered lawyers and Florida lenders after publication of a progress report showing a 168% increase in foreclosure preventions since the April 20, 2009 roundtable discussion between the two groups focused on finding solutions to keep more Floridians in their homes.

ORLANDO, FL - July 8, 2009 - (RealEstateRama) — Across Florida, people are struggling to deal with some of the aftershocks caused by the current economy, including the alarming rise in foreclosed homes now devastating families and communities

Foreclosure protection offered to displaced families in Volusia County. WASHINGTON,DC - May 29, 2009 - (RealEstateRama) — May 29, 2009 - (RealEstateRama) — U.S. Housing and Urban Development Secretary Shaun Donovan today announced HUD will speed federal disaster assistance to storm-ravaged Volusia County in Florida and provide support to homeowners and low-income renters forced from their homes following severe storms, flooding, straight-line winds, and tornadoes last week.

WASHINGTON, DC - May 12, 2009 - (RealEstateRama) — U.S. Senator Mel Martinez (R-FL) voted in favor of the Helping Families Save Their Home Act, S. 896. The bill includes a mortgage servicers safe harbor provision that will curb home foreclosures and jumpstart residential loan modifications. In addition, this legislation expands the Hope for Homeowners program, which is aimed at keeping honest homeowners in their homes during these difficult economic times. Last, the bill will increase the borrowing authority of the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) to help it cope with the increased risk facing the nation's banks. The measure passed in the Senate by a vote of 91-5

TALLAHASSEE, FL - April 16, 2009 - (RealEstateRama) — Florida Chief Financial Officer Sink joined Florida Realtors® and Sadowski Workforce Housing Coalition members during two separate events today to promote her efforts to protect Florida homeowners. As a champion for homeowners, CFO Sink underscored her department’s My Safe Florida Home (MSFH) program and efforts to address Florida’s high rate of home foreclosures.

TALLAHASSEE, FL - April 09, 2009 - (RealEstateRama) — Attorney General Bill McCollum today announced that his office has obtained a court order temporarily prohibiting a Jacksonville company from charging up-front fees for foreclosure-related rescue services. According to the order issued by the Duval County Circuit Court, National Foreclosure Counseling Services Corp. is barred from charging homeowners any fee in advance for providing foreclosure-related rescue services. The order was agreed upon by the state and the company.

TALLAHASSEE, FL - March 30, 2009 - (RealEstateRama) — Attorney General Bill McCollum today obtained a temporary injunction against Lincoln Lending Services, LLC and owner Rita Gomez, prohibiting the company from engaging in any type of consumer-debt related service or mortgage modification service and from taking payment from consumers for such services until further order of the court. The company will also be required to preserve and allow inspection of its records and refrain from liquidating its assets.

TALLAHASSEE, FL - March 30, 2009 - (RealEstateRama) — Attorney General Bill McCollum today announced that his office has obtained an emergency court order temporarily prohibiting a Central Florida company from charging up-front fees for foreclosure-related rescue services. According to the order issued by the Orange County Circuit Court, Wineberg, Lopez, & Rodriguez Company is barred from charging homeowners any fee in advance for providing foreclosure-related rescue services. Wineberg Lopez, & Rodriguez Company must comply with written notice requirements contained in the Foreclosure Rescue Fraud Prevention Act, which became law on October 1, 2008

TALLAHASSEE, FL - March 18, 2009 - (RealEstateRama) — Attorney General Bill McCollum today announced that his office has filed a lawsuit against a Central Florida company for allegedly charging up-front fees for loan modification services to homeowners facing foreclosure.

Miami, FL - March 11, 2009 - (RealEstateRama) — Today NeighborWorks Chief Operating Officer Eileen Fitzgerald will help Neighborhood Housing Services of South Florida, a member of the NeighborWorks network, unveil a new name and expanded service area by opening the first of two new offices in Miami-Dade and Broward Counties that will provide foreclosure prevention services, affordable housing opportunities, and neighborhood revitalization efforts to the South Florida counties.

TALLAHASSEE, FL - March 11, 2009 - (RealEstateRama) — Florida Chief Financial Officer Alex Sink announced today that the Florida Housing Help Initiative she launched last year to assist Floridians facing foreclosure is joining forces with Pasco County Community Development, Community United Methodist Church of Holiday, and the United Way, to host a Florida Housing Help Workshop this Saturday from 9am to 2pm in Holiday.