PHILADELPHIA, MARCH 27, 2008: State Sen. Mike Stack encourages constituents who are having difficulty paying their home mortgages to attend a free upcoming HOPE NOW Homeownership Preservation Forum.

The public forum will take place on Tuesday, April 1 from 2 to 8 p.m. at the University of Pennsylvania in Houston Hall, located at 3417 Spruce St. Free campus parking is available.

“Mortgage foreclosure is at an all-time high across the country, and it’s affecting families in every community, including our area,” Stack said.

HOPE NOW can help struggling homeowneres maintain their homes, and so I encourage anyone who needs assistance to attend this beneficial event.”

Attendees will have the opportunity to meet one-on-one with their lenders about workout options to avoid foreclosure, as well as receive information and assistance on homeownership preservation.

HOPE NOW is a partnership between lenders and non-profit housing counselors whose mission is to reach out and attempt to assist homeowners who may be having difficulty paying their mortgages.

As Democratic chairman of the Senate Banking and Insurance Committee, Sen. Stack is a vocal proponent of mortgage protection legisation. Recently, he praised the Senate passage of a package of bills that would protect Pennsylvania consumers and help strengthen the mortgage industry, which has been reeling from the effects of an economic slowdown and bad loans.

For more information about the HOPE NOW Alliance visit www.hopenow.com or call 1-888-995-HOPE.

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