Area native in D.C. helping those facing foreclosure

SCRANTON -- With mortgage defaults topping a list of economic woes, the Hope Now Alliance in Washington, D.C., offers help to families facing the loss of their homes.

The executive director of Hope Now, Faith Schwartz, grew up in Northeastern Pennsylvania and looks back at her time growing up with fond feelings and an understanding on how it shaped who she is.

“My family had the greatest influence,” she said. “Significant work ethic, ability to pull oneself up from adversity, and always thoughtful to friends and family.”

On a regular basis she visits her 81-year-old mother, Janet Edwards Arnold, who still lives in Waverly. She keeps in touch with her brother, who owns the Faccia Luna restaurant in West Side Scranton, and a list of friends from her school years.

“I think there is no better place to grow up than where I did. As we raise our family in Washington, D.C., it is a far cry from how I grew up.”

Her three children look forward to coming to the Scranton area more than their “exotic” vacation, she joked.

She thinks back to the time she spent at the Waverly Community House and her years playing sports in the Abington School District.

Now she focuses on the important task of fighting foreclosures. With her long list of mortgage industry credentials, she targets predatory lenders.

Former Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson and Housing and Urban Development chief Alphonso Jackson publicly praised the efforts of Hope Now.

Working within the alliance, she emphasizes bringing all involved factions together to make progress, she said. Investors, lenders, government agencies and non-profits such as Hope Now must team up through this very difficult time, she said.

She urges local homeowners to call the HOPE hotline, 888-995-HOPE, and meet with local HUD-approved housing counselors to go over any issues they have with their mortgages. Trained professionals can consult with families at no charge.

“Do not pay to get counseling or pay for the service from someone who says they are going to fix your loan,” she said. For example, in Northeastern Pennsylvania, the Neighborhood Housing Services office at 709 Market St., Scranton, works with Hope Now.

“There is nothing worse than doing nothing,” she emphasized. She urged homeowners to take advantage of the available services.

“Foreclosures are not good, and the more people we can help, the less foreclosures there are,” she said.

Hope Now received a humanitarian award at a mortgage industry conference. More than 1 million foreclosures were thwarted because of Hope Now’s national efforts, according to the group’s Web page.