The Statewide effort called Florida Attorneys Saving Homes has launched a toll-free hot line (866-607-2187) and will take calls from 10 a.m. through 4 p.m. Monday through Friday. Callers who fear that they soon won't be able to make their mortgage payments or who have already missed payments but are not yet in foreclosure are urged to call. Hot line callers will answer a few initial questions to ensure accurate placement with pro bono attorneys, who will then negotiate with lenders on behalf of homeowners. The hope is to create a relationship in which the lender and the homeowner can together create a loan that allows the homeowner to remain in the home and avoid foreclosure – a win-win situation for all involved.
"The concept for the project began with the announcement from the banking industry of their HOPE NOW and Project Lifeline Projects," Spuhler said. "We felt homeowners having trouble with their mortgage would have better success negotiating with their lender if they had the assistance of an attorney."
For more information, contact Dionne L. Meyers, Florida Attorneys Saving Homes coordinator at Florida Legal Services, at (850) 385-7900, ext. 1828, or e-mail dionne@floridalegal.org.
Contact: Zannah Lyle,
The Florida Bar
Phone: 850/561-5669
slyle@flabar.org