Our Mission:
To create organized leadership around issues impacting neighborhood life. Community residents are at the forefront of all organizing efforts, as they are in the best position to create and implement change. To read more about ESOP, click this orange box:
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FACE-TO-FACE FORECLOSURE COUNSELING IN JEOPARDY Ohio is facing drastic funding cuts for the most effective tool in preventing foreclosure: one-to-one counseling. Please contact your state sentator urging him or her to support funding for foreclosure counseling in Ohio SB197, the foreclosure mediation bill. Sample Letter
Please send e-mails to Washington officials urging them to fund foreclosure counseling with federal dollars. Ohio must not be left out of federal foreclosure prevention allocations: E-MAIL for Treasury Sec. Tim Geithner: timothy.geithner@do.treas.gov E-MAIL for HUD Sec. Shaun Donovan: secretary.donovan@hud.gov
CUYAHOGA COUNTY: ESOP OFFERS DAILY APPOINTMENTS IN CLEVELAND, WEEKLY IN SOUTH EUCLID, LAKEWOOD, BEDFORD HTS & GARFIELD HTS Daily appointments for homeowners are available in Cleveland at the main office on Perkins or at the Westside Housing Center in the Detroit-Shoreway neighborhood. Convenient weekly appointments in suburban communities are also available: Monday mornings: South Euclid Wednesday evenings: Lakewood & Bedford Heights Thursday afternoons: Garfield Heights Call 216-361-0718 for more information or to schedule free services.
STARK COUNTY: ESOP MASSILLON STAFF HOLD MONTHLY APPOINTMENTS IN CANTON ESOP'S Massillon-based staff hold evening group appointments in Canton once a month at the North Branch Library for the convenience of area homeowners. For more information about the Canton schedule or to make an appt for any week day in Massillon, call 330-775-1035.
NEED SPANISH SPEAKING SERVICES? ¿NECESITA SERVICIO EN ESPAÑOL? ESOP has Spanish bilingual counselors in both Cleveland offices. Homeowners outside the Cuyahoga calling area in need of Spanish-speaking services can call us toll-free at: 877-731-ESOP (3767). ESOP tiene consejeras que hablan Español en sus Officinas que estan localizadas en Cleveland. Los propietarios de vivienda fuera de Cuyahoga que necesiten servicios en Español, favor de llamar al número gratuito: 877-731-ESOP (3767).
DON'T BECOME A VICTIM OF MORTGAGE SCAMS! Homeowners beware! Fraudulent rescue scammers are trying to get your money. They pretend to be from government agencies or legitimate companies and promise to help refinance or modify your mortgage through the Presiden'ts Making Home Affordable program. Homeowners never have to pay to participate in the program. DO NOT PAY MONEY TO ANYONE! FREE HELP IS AVAILABLE FROM ESOP.
IDEASTREAM REPORTS ON NEW CHASE PROMISES JPMorgan Chase representatives last met with ESOP leaders on Nov. 23. Ongoing talks have centered on several roadblocks that Chase borrowers encounter when trying to obtain mortage resolutions. Chase repledged to improve aspects of its loan modification process. Talks with Chase began after ESOP organized homeowners in a Day of Action that took place on June 11 at several Chase branches across Ohio.
ESOP RECOGNIZED WITH AWARDS Last year, ESOP was honored with two prestigious awards. In May, the Oberlin Research Group presented ESOP leadership with its 2009 Most Innovative Business Practices Award. The award recognizes ESOP for having a board of directors that includes former recipients of its services, which ensures a foundational grassroots connection to those ESOP serves.
In June, ESOP was also honored by the Ohio Housing & Finance Agency (OHFA), who selected ESOP from among Ohio's HUD-certified housing counseling agencies, to receive the Sustainable Homeownership Excellence Award. ESOP is the state leader in foreclosure prevention and number of saved homes. Read OHFA's announcement See photo
ESOP HELPS COMMUNITY ORGANIZATION REMOVE BLIGHTED PROPERTY ESOP recently helped non-profit Slavic Village Development obtain an abandoned, dilapitated house on E.72 St. in Cleveland. Long a neighborhood eyesore, the property sits directly across the street from SVD's anchor project, the Morgana Model Block. Housing Director, Stacia Pugh said, "We finally took title to the property for $1000 on 5/28/09 thanks to ESOP." Now demolished, the worst blight on the street has been transformed into a beautiful greenspace.
ESOP helps responsible community organizations & local governments connect with lenders to acquire vacant, bank-owned properties for demolition or rehab. These efforts help restore neighborhoods that have been hard hit by the foreclosure crisis.
ESOP in the News
- Editorial: Federal neglect makes foreclosures Ohio's problem to solve
- Senator seeking foreclosure aid here, too
- Lawmaker wants TARP money extended to Ohio
- Brown calls for foreclosure relief extension
- Senator Brown urges expanded foreclosure aid for Ohio
- Home Foreclosure Auctions in Summit Bucked Rising Ohio Trend
- American Idle - As GM shutters a plant, an area in decline struggles to imagine a future
- Counseling funds cut, even with high area foreclosure rates