Res. No. 872-A
Resolution calling upon the New York State Legislature and the Governor to support the continuation of New York's Foreclosure Prevention Services Program in the 2012-2013 Executive Budget.
By Council Members Vann, Comrie, Arroyo, Eugene, Gentile, Koppell, Lander, Mendez, Rose, Williams, Nelson, Wills, Levin, Barron, Dromm, Chin, Palma, Jackson, Foster, Dickens, Reyna, Mealy, Gonzalez, Mark-Viverito, Ferreras, Sanders Jr., Rodriguez, Gennaro and Halloran
Whereas, Over the past several years, the United States housing market has experienced a crisis due to historic foreclosure rates; and
Whereas, According to the Empire Justice Center, ten percent of mortgage loans in New York City are either delinquent by 90 days or more or in foreclosure; and
Whereas, According to the Federal Reserve Bank of New York (the Fed), in September of 2011, approximately seven percent of mortgage loans in Queens, approximately eight percent of mortgage loans in Brooklyn, approximately seven percent of mortgage loans in the Bronx, approximately five percent of loans in Staten Island and approximately one percent of the loans in Manhattan were in foreclosure; and
Whereas, According to the Fed, in September of 2011, approximately six percent of the mortgage loans in Queens, approximately five percent of the mortgage loans in Brooklyn, approximately six percent of the mortgage loans in the Bronx, approximately five percent of the mortgage loans in Staten Island and approximately one percent of the mortgage loans in Manhattan were sixty or more days delinquent on their mortgage payments and were in danger of being foreclosed; and
Whereas, A report entitled "Do Foreclosures Cause Crime?" by the Furman Center for Real Estate and Urban Policy at New York University found that violent crime increases about two percent on blocks where a home becomes foreclosed and by approximately six percent if a second home is foreclosed on the same block; and
Whereas, According to the report entitled "Neighborhood Effects of Concentrated Mortgage Foreclosures," a single foreclosure can reduce the price of nearby homes by one to two percent and three foreclosures can reduce the price of nearby homes by about three percent; and
Whereas, According to a report by the Task Force to Expand Access to Civil Legal Services, forty-four percent of New York homeowners are unrepresented in foreclosure cases throughout New York State; and
Whereas, According to the New York Times, there have been instances where certain financial institutions used improper methods in hastening foreclosures, negatively impacting the homeowners' chances of keeping their property; and
Whereas, Many families who encounter foreclosure cannot afford legal representation, resulting in homeowners having little idea how to defend themselves, and it is important that individuals who cannot afford legal representation in foreclosure proceedings receive assistance; and
Whereas, The Foreclosure Prevention Services Program provides a continuum of foreclosure prevention services such as outreach and education, counseling, legal representation and court-based services through direct service grants to not-for-profit providers and legal service providers; and
Whereas, A recent change to the Uniform Rules for the New York State Trial Courts which requires counsel to attest to the accuracy of paperwork by filing an affidavit or affirmation attesting to the accuracy of foreclosure documents they submit, coupled with the growing number of foreclosure filings, may have slowed the foreclosure resolution process and created a backlog in the court system, thereby creating a need for foreclosure mitigation services, which may be needed for several years to come, now; therefore, be it
Resolved, That the Council of the City of New York calls upon the New York State Legislature and the Governor to support the continuation and increased funding of New York's Foreclosure Prevention Services Program in the 2012-2013 Executive Budget.
WJH/BJG
LS # 2149 & 3046
1/12/2012