Arizona Attorney General Mark Brnovich commended 23 community agencies on Thursday for their efforts to help struggling residents with mortgage issues.
The agencies partnered with the attorney general's office on the Help You Can Trust program to assist families who were impacted by the nation's housing crisis. So far, the program has assisted approximately 20,700 Arizona residents.
As part of the program, 138 families received more than $5.2 million in forgivable, zero-interest loans through the AZ Mortgage Relief Fund. The loans were used for principal reduction, refinancing or past due mortgage payments.
More than 60 people received job skills training and employment services that included funds for such things as gas and cell phone payments during their job search.
Another 6,487 Arizona residents received pre-purchase, foreclosure and financial counseling from Housing and Urban Development counselors. Legal aid teams also investigated 1,117 foreclosure cases and provided 12,300 people with self-help legal education.
Among the agencies that Brnovich thanked were: the Administration of Resources and Choices, Arizona Community Action Association, Arizona Foundation for Legal Services and Education, Arizona Women’s Education and Employment, ASU Homeowner Advocacy Project, Catholic Charities, Home Again Program, Chicanos Por La Causa, Community Housing Resources of Arizona, Community Legal Services, DNA People’s Legal Services, Family Housing Resources, Habitat for Humanity Tucson, Housing Solutions of Northern Arizona, Greater Phoenix Urban League, Maricopa County Human Services Dept., Neighborhood Housing Services of Phoenix, Old Pueblo Community Foundation, Pima County Community Services, Southeastern Arizona Governments Organization, Southern Arizona Legal Aid, Southwestern Fair housing Council, Don’t Borrow Trouble, and Western Arizona Council of Governments.