As we [JCI] have reported, Jersey City — like the rest of the country — has been hit hard by the real estate bubble, and many families are facing foreclosure. As the recession wears on and unemployment remains high, even more people are teetering on the edge, worried about the security of their homes.
If you’re facing foreclosure or are worried about the possibility, you might be eligible for a new series of workshops being put together by the Garden State Episcopal Community Development Corporation (GSECDC).
The workshops, which will begin within the next few weeks, will cover the foreclosure timeline in New Jersey, detailing what happens at each stage. The program will also help residents avoid foreclosure scams and eventually set attendees up with personalized one-on-one counseling from GSECDC.
John Restrepo, the director of GSECDC’s real estate division, says that there will be between 15 and 20 open spots in the workshops, which he hopes to run each month. The entire program is free of charge and open only to Jersey City residents who meet certain eligibility requirements, since it is being funded by a federal Community Service Block Grant.
The program is aimed at folks at all stages of the foreclosure process, whether your home has already been listed for a sheriff’s sale or if you are just beginning to fall behind on mortgage payments.
“We’re trying to cover the whole spectrum,” Restrepo says.
Program is not longer available.