When the economy turns down, foreclosures on homes go up. Reports last week in the Central Penn Business Journal and the Philadelphia Inquirer show that Pennsylvania is not exempt.
Many Pennsylvanians are finding it difficult to make their monthly mortgage payments due to circumstances beyond their control. Contributing to the difficulties is the loss of the state’s Homeowners Emergency Mortgage Assistance Program (HEMAP). The program was cut so significantly in 2011, it could not function. HEMAP offers short-term loans to qualified individuals in danger of losing their homes. Governor Corbett’s proposed budget for the 2012 -13 fiscal contains no funding for HEMAP.
The program is unique in that it does not offer grants or “bailouts;” rather, it provides loans to Pennsylvanians who are facing foreclosure due to circumstances beyond their control. Since its founding in 1983, HEMAP has helped over 46,000 families. Over 85% of these families have been able to remain in their homes for the long term while repaying their HEMAP loans.
The PCC and other housing advocates are lobbying to restore the funding in the 2012-2013 budget.
