On September 25th 2010, a successful Home Rescue Fair was launched in Silver Spring MD, bringing over 165 attendees. CAF was joined in this effort with national partnership with the National Urban League (NUL), National Council of La Raza (NCLR), and the National Coalition for Asian Pacific American Community Development (National CAPACD) with the support of Bank of America, the Alliance for Stabilizing our Communities to provide homeowners with additional resources to help them keep their homes. “Our minority communities continue to struggle to keep a roof over their heads,” said Walkiria Pool, president and founder of Centro de Apoyo Familiar

The Home Rescue Fair was a great opportunity and used as a motivational tool for homeowners facing foreclosure to stand on their feet and fight for their property, despite of language differences. Most of the HUD approved housing counselors, lenders, and legal services were bilingual and some were provided with a translator if the homeowner didn’t speak English. Remarkably, 62% of homeowners said that it was the first time that they spoke to a lender or a counselor where 38% said that it was not the first time. “Every family that we are able to assist in keeping their homes make our mission a success” said CAF’s Deputy Director, Yudelka Acosta.

This event brought national lenders such as Bank of America, Wells Fargo, and J.P. Morgan Chase giving homeowners the opportunity to meet directly with their mortgage lenders in resolving their housing issues. About 46% of homeowners met with Bank of America, 32% with Wells Fargo, 21% with Chase and a great number met directly with Fannie Mae or Freddie Mac. In addition to the lenders industry, 28% of the homeowners were also able to meet with HUD approved housing counselors from CAF, Home Free USA, Hispanic Committee of VA (HCVA), Housing Initiative Partnership, Inc. (HIP), and Latino Economic Development Corporation (LEDC). The Home Rescue Fair also brought the Pro Bono Resource Center of Maryland for legal services where 22% of individuals were able to meet with. 

Workshops and educational information tools were also provided to homeowners about important topics in the housing industry. Speakers discussed topics on Credit Rebuilding, Foreclosure Prevention process, Mortgage Fraud, and the Making Home Affordable program. Event Speakers were representatives of Freddie Mac, Home Free USA, and CAF