Kamala Harris

Attorney General Kamala D. Harris announced a $10.4 million grant program Wednesday for organizations that provide housing counseling and legal services to homeowners.  The grant funds were secured through the National Mortgage Settlement with the goal of providing assistance to homeowners impacted by California’s foreclosure crisis.

The California Department of Justice will award Consumer Assistance Grants for housing counseling and legal service providers ranging from $150,000 to $750,000 per organization.  A Homeowner Bill of Rights Implementation Grant of approximately $1 million will also be awarded to assist in the implementation of California’s new homeowner protection legislation sponsored by the Attorney General this year.

Grant applications must be received electronically no later than January 14, 2013.  Details regarding the application process can be found at http://oag.ca.gov/grants.

The California State Bar, under the leadership of Executive Director Joe Dunn, will work with the Attorney General’s office to administer the grants.

The California Homeowner Bill of Rights, signed into law earlier this year, restricts dual-track foreclosures, where a lender forecloses on a borrower despite being in discussions over a loan modification to save the home.  It also guarantees struggling homeowners a single point of contact at their lender with knowledge of their loan and direct access to decision makers, and imposes civil penalties on fraudulently signed mortgage documents.

The California Homeowner Bill of Rights expanded Attorney General Harris’ response to the state’s foreclosure and mortgage crisis. Attorney General Harris created a Mortgage Fraud Strike Force in March, 2011 to investigate and prosecute misconduct related to mortgages and foreclosures. In February 2012, Attorney General Harris negotiated a commitment from the nation’s five largest banks to dedicate an estimated $18 billion to mitigate harm to California homeowners caused by bank conduct in the foreclosure process.