O'Malley Announces Md. Housing Initiatives
ANNAPOLIS, Md. (WJZ) -- The state of Maryland is the first to use federal emergency mortgage assistance to help families stay in their homes.
Pat Warren has more on this new program.
Thousands of families continue to face losing their homes to foreclosure and Maryland continues to take the lead in helping some of them out of it.
Governor Martin O'Malley, who made kitchen table talks a campaign trademark, has moved on to saving whole houses, including Fanny Melvin's home in Bowie.
"I went through a divorce in 2007. Towards the end of 2007, I watched the company go through a downsizing and I did take a big large paycut that I was struggling to keep my home," she said.
It's a home that would have been lost, she says, without the help of a counselor in the state's emergency mortgage assistance program.
"When I was going through the struggle, I used to ask God, `Where is God?' and `Why me?' but she's the person God sent and showed me guidance," Melvin said.
EMA also prevented Lisa Barnes from losing her home.
"I just want to say thank you," Barnes said.
The O'Malley administration wants to spread the story.
"Both Ms. Melvin and Ms. Barnes have saved their homes today---not because somebody like Ed McMahon came around knocking on their door and said `Here I am to solve your problems.' No, no, they had to pick up the phone, they had to persevere, they had to call for help. But when they did, we were able---through our network of counselors---to help," O'Malley said.
Homeowners are urged not to hesitate.
"I say that from the bottom of my heart---and I'm not going to cry---I finally get it," Barnes said.
"If your mortgage is late, do not wait. Pick up the phone and call 1-877-462-7555," O'Malley said.
Forty million dollars have been allocated to help homeowners who have suddenly lost jobs or income, due to things like medical emergencies, to bring their mortgages up-to-date.
