Help with foreclosure prevention in Georgetown Oct. 23

The Delmarva Reinvestment Community Action Council has organized an event in Sussex County Wednesday, Oct. 23, to help homeowners get on top of their finances and mortgage.

At Wednesday's first-ever foreclosure-prevention open house, DCRAC housing director Jaclyn Linteri said counselors will be available from noon to 7 p.m. to direct homeowners to programs and assistance.

"There will be plenty of counselors available, and the hope is that clients will be able to just walk in during the day," Linteri said. "They can sit down and talk to a counselor to get some one-on-one guidance on how to make home affordable with the programs that are available.

Foreclosure alternatives include the Home Affordable Modification Program, she said, which allows clients to work with their lender to modify their loans to change mortgage payments.

The Home Affordable Refinancing Program, Linteri said, provides assistance and refinancing with Freddie Mac and Fannie May mortgages.

During the open house, Linteri said potential clients are welcome to bring mortgage documents with them for more in-depth advice, but paperwork is not required for assistance.

"There's no time restriction, so someone can come in any time during the day," she said. "It really is an open house. We are not making people sit down for a class, and people should feel free to bring mortgage documents when talking to a counselor if it would help."

DCRAC has also partnered with other organizations including Delmarva Power to provide options for other concerns, such as meeting monthly utility bills.

Hoy en Delaware, a Spanish-language media company, has also stepped in to provide all counseling and services in Spanish as well as English, Linteri said.

DCRAC offices are located in the Georgetown Professional Park at 20127 Office Circle in Georgetown. For information, call 302 645 5024, ext. 103.