JAMESTOWN – The top law enforcement official in New York State was in Jamestown Wednesday to give an update on his effort to prevent what he feels are unnecessary housing foreclosures across the state.
Attorney General Eric T. Schneiderman was joined by housing advocates and local lawmakers at the Jackson Center to unveil a new, three-year report detailing the results of his office’s recent efforts to prevent foreclosures, keep families in their homes, and rebuild communities hit hardest by the housing crash.
According to Schneiderman, the three programs outlined in the report—the Homeowner Protection Program, New York State Mortgage Assistance Program, and AGScamHelp.com—have helped tens of thousands of New York families, including nearly 7,000 homeowners in Western New York and the Southern Tier, avoid foreclosure.
The programs are funded by more than $100 million from the settlements that Attorney General Schneiderman negotiated with the nation’s largest banks following the collapse of the housing market.
Schneiderman chose Jamestown to release his report because the area is served by the Chautauqua County Land Bank, which has received a total of $2.8 million in funding from the his office, which has been used to demolish between 40-50 highly distressed properties, as well as preserve and resell 40-50 vacant “side lots” that will be converted to open space and transferred to responsible owners who will put the lots back on the tax rolls.
Complete details of the report can be found online at the Attorney General’s website.
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