WPCNR The Housing News. By John F. Bailey. April 17, 2008: Mayor Joseph Delfino and Geoffrey Anderson, Executive Director of Westchester Residential Opportunities, Inc. announced a joint program today to provide counseling, budgeting and information to White Plains homeowners faced with the inability to pay their mortgages. In the course of the news conference the Mayor said 86 homeowners, mostly in the Fisher Hill and Battle Hill areas of the city faced renegotiation of subprime mortgages to fixed rate mortgages in the next three months. The program is being called White Plains Initiative to Save Equity. It also calls for the city to furnish a part-time counselor selected by WRO to aid White Plains homeowners exclusively.
Mayor Joseph Delfino of White Plains, with Geoffrey Anderson, left, Executive Director of Westchester Residential Opportunities, Inc., left, and to the right, Nicole Aulotta and Cynthia Grillo of Hudson States Bank, announcing the Mayor's WISE intiative today at City Hall
The program the Mayor said was to help these homeowners, many of whom are afraid of losing their homes and do not know where to turn, by providing information, telling the steps to take to preserve their home, and to help them in talking to their lender. Westchester Residential Opportunities, an organization that has long partnered with the city will provide their councilors who currently serve the North and South ends of the County. The Mayor said the Common Council will be asked to provide $30,000 in funding from the City’s Affordable Housing Assistance Fund for a third parttime counselor for WRO, who would handle White Plains homeowners only.
Mayor Delfino advised the gathering that White Plains homes facing foreclosure in the first quarter of 2008 numbered 28, and that the County Clerk, Timothy Idoni has confirmed that the wrong zip codes were used in figuring the number to be 54, as the County Clerk’s office advised the news media previously. Hudson States Bank which has worked with the White Plains Planning Department in funding rehabilitation of homes in White Plains, will also provide counseling and analysis on an individual case-by-case basis. When asked if the bank would provide bridge loans or financial aid, the Commissioner of Planning said it depended on the individual homeowner’s case.
Residents interested in Westchester Residential Opportunities counseling on mortgage problems they face can contact WRO at 914-668-4424, extension 301, or 428-4507, extension 316.
