Free classes offered in Tucson to cope with mortgage foreclosures

Q. What’s worse than losing a home through foreclosure during this recession?

A. Some scam artists trying to profit from your misfortune.

Kay White, executive director of a HUD-certified housing counseling agency in Tucson, said she has seen signs tacked on telephone poles offering to save your house.

“Don’t fall for it,” she said in a recent interview. She further states “Reputable agencies provide free foreclosure prevention services and these scam artists are taking your money and usually doing nothing to save your home.”

Ten percent of the homeowners that are served by her housing counseling staff have already been scammed and are still in need of help to save their homes.

White is the executive director of the Administration of Resources and Choices (ARC), a U.S. Housing and Urban Development-recognized agency. This is a not-for-profit organization funded by grants from Pima County, the Arizona Department of Housing and HUD to assist people who need help with housing issues.

One of its no-cost courses is dealing with potential foreclosure.

“We see a lot of that in this recession,” she said in an interview.

A Green Valley woman had contacted ARC, referred by Green Valley Assistance Service.

She eventually found local help for her problem, but added the ARC program seemed so appealing she even suggested it offer a course in Green Valley. There are a lot of people over 60 who are hard hit by the recession.

The ARC Foreclosure Prevention Workshops are held Tuesday evenings in Tucson. Counseling staff tries to mediate between the homeowner and lender and the workshop teaches homeowners how to respond and prepare when contacting lenders.

But Executive Director White asks that homeowners do not just show up for a class.

Call 623-9383 to sign up and be given a list of all documents you need to bring.

People in the Santa Cruz Valley are hearing about the classes.

White said the workshop has attracted families from Green Valley, Sahuarita, Amado and even Nogales.

The turnout is usually good, ranging from four to 10 households per week.

Participants who need additional help have individual appointments scheduled at the end of the free workshop.

The classes are given at the Tucson’s Food Bank, 3003 S. Country Club in the second floor conference room.

“We’ve had great response” from the community, said White.

But despite the enthusiasm White has seen, she had a bleak forecast for the economy.

“I don’t think we’ve hit the bottom yet.”

jlamb@gvnews.com | 547-9749