WASHINGTON – Feb. 7, 2012 – HOPE NOW – a voluntary, private sector alliance of mortgage servicers, investors, mortgage insurers and non-profit counselors – is expanding its efforts to reach at-risk military homeowners.

Hope Now has sponsored 120 face-to-face homeowner events since 2008, but the group recently met in Washington to discuss a comprehensive plan for reaching out to military homeowners facing foreclosure due to Permanent Change of Station (PCS) and other issues. Additionally, a separate group, which included judges, attorneys and several state housing agencies including Maryland, Ohio and Rhode Island, convened during the two day meetings to discuss best practices and standards related to foreclosure mediation.

“The current housing crisis has created a separate set of challenges for homeowners in the military,” says John Dalton, president of the Housing Policy Council and former Secretary of the Navy. Among other ideas, one recommendation includes a single point of contact within the military for trouble military homeowners. “Through that single point of contact, housing relocation managers and (military lawyers) will work together to save homes for families serving our country.”

“We have already held four years of successful borrower events across the country, and we are now in a position to expand our outreach efforts,” says Faith Schwartz, executive director, Hope Now. “We look forward to the opportunity to assist military families and we hope to help solve gaps in the process. … With our military partners, we have identified at least four military bases for face-to-face outreach events, which we plan to hold in the first half of 2012. Additional bases may be added before the end of the year. We continue to hold discussions with the various military branches each day to finalize these efforts.”

Hope Now is an industry-created alliance of mortgage servicers, investors, counselors, and other mortgage market participants, brought together by the Financial Services Roundtable, Housing Policy Council and Mortgage Bankers Association.

For more information go to www.HopeNow.com or call the free Homeowner’s Hope Hotline at (888) 995-HOPE

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