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WPB Throwing Foreclosure Lifeline to Palm Beach County Families
Expansion of City’s Foreclosure Center Means Thousands more Can Get Help

Phone: (561) 822-1583

The City of West Palm Beach’s highly-innovative, nationally-recognized Foreclosure Assistance Center (FAC) is expanding its reach and will now offer free assistance to families throughout Palm Beach County. The Center’s services had previously only been available to West Palm Beach residents.

“Bringing this first-of-its-kind foreclosure assistance program to families across Palm Beach County will help save homes, keep families together and stabilize our housing market,” said Mayor Lois Frankel. “The Center has made a huge difference in the lives of hundreds of West Palm Beach families, and now, with the help of our partners, we’ll be able to touch families throughout the county.”

The City is expanding the Foreclosure Assistance Center (FAC) with the help of non-profits, government agencies and faith-based institutions. HomeFree USA, a HUD-approved non-profit home ownership counseling organization, will implement the new program and lead the counseling. Satellite offices throughout Palm Beach County, where people can go for help, are being provided by local churches through a faith-based initiative launched as part of the expansion. The churches will also help get the word out about the Center’s services. From Pahokee to Delray Beach to Jupiter, families will be able to visit one of many FAC satellite offices strategically located throughout the county. All services provided by the FAC will continue to be FREE of charge.

“This expansion is great news for Palm Beach County’s homeowners,” said Director of Housing and Community Development Emelda Johnson. “Thanks to our new partners, we’re going to be able to serve many families that we have had to turn away in the past.”

The Center is a “one-stop-shop” solution center for families facing foreclosure problems. The goal is for people to leave the Center with a solution to their housing situation, not simply a referral to an agency or a contact phone number. All homeowners who receive help from the center must enroll in a mandatory 12-month financial counseling and education program.

Additional partners in the FAC expansion include the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), the Florida Housing Finance Corporation and Palm Beach County Government.

WPB County-wide Foreclosure Assistance Program Locations

Palm Beach County residents in foreclosure trouble can get assistance at the following locations:

• City of WPB Foreclosure Assistance Center, 464 Fern Street, WPB 33401. 561-822-1575.
• St. Paul’s Church, 3345 Haverhill Road, West Palm Beach, 33417. 561-242-0001.
• Hurst Chapel, 1617 Silver Beach Road, Riviera Beach, 33404. 561-845-7579.
• St. Paul’s, 315 M.L. King Blvd., Boynton Beach, 33455. 561-734-2348.
• Harvest AME, 825 Larrimore Road, Pahokee, 33476. 561-924-7030.
• Delray Beach CDC, 401 W. Atlantic Avenue, #016.

To learn more about how to get help, homeowners should call 561-822-1583.

Faith-Based Partners

Rev. Charles Scott
St. Paul AME West Palm Beach
3345 Haverhill Road
West Palm Beach, FL 33417

Rev. Clarence Bess
Hurst Chapel AME
1617 Silver Beach Road
Riviera Beach, FL 33404

Rev. Waymond Dixon
St. Paul AME Church, Inc.
119 NW 5th Avenue
Delray Beach, FL 33444

Rev. Patricia Wallace
Harvest AME
P.O. Box 410
Pahokee, FL 33476

Rev. Hudson Williamson
St. Paul AME Boynton Beach
PO Box 1419
Boynton Beach, FL 33455

In a first of its kind cooperative effort designed to serve as a national model, The City of West Palm Beach is joining with national organizations and banks to create a first of its kind foreclosure assistance center. The center is focused on immediate solutions for homeowners facing loss of their property. Even before the center opened, a woman who had heard about it came to the press conference and asked for assistance. She joined two other families, one just 10 days from foreclosure, who were interviewed by the media about their situations and the help they needed. The options for distressed homeowners include:

• Direct payment to the mortgagee of arrearages up to $10,000.00

• Negotiation with the current mortgagee for repayment agreements on existing loans.

• Purchase of their home should their current lender agree to a “Short Sale” arrangement.

• Purchased homes available thru the city’s affordable housing program.

• Assistance with finding employment for those who have lost their jobs.

• A Credit Recovery Plan to help them repair damaged credit.

In order to receive any benefits from the Center, homeowners must agree to register in our Housing Counseling and Education Program for a minimum of 12 months.

Foreclosures and the economy are issue #1. The City of West Palm Beach and the list of full time sponsors below are taking steps to actually provide direct solutions to homeowners and neighborhoods facing this daunting challenge. The center is free and is a dedicated structure devoted solely to helping on this key issue. West Palm Beach Mayor Lois Frankel said “For many the national dream of home ownership has turned into a national nightmare of foreclosure. The city and its private partners are opening this first in the nation center to provide concrete solutions to the most daunting challenge facing America’s families.”

Partners and Supporters
The Urban League, Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), Education & Community Housing, Inc. (R.E.A.C.H), BankAtlantic, Bank of America, Foreclosure.Com, HSBC Bank, National City Bank, The Housing Partnership, SunTrust Bank, The T.A.C. Companies, Unified Financial Group, United Way of Palm Beach, Consumer Credit Counseling Services.

Common Q & A on the Center

• Question: What are the days and hours of operation going to be?

• Answer: Initially, the Center will be open from 9:00 to 5:00 Monday through Friday

• Question: How are people expected to get in touch with center?

• Answer: Contact the Department of Housing and Community Development at 822-1250.

• Question: Where do people visiting the center park?

• Answer: Meter Parking is available on both Fern and Gardenia. Also, the City Place Parking garage is accessible from Gardenia.

• Question: Are all the services being offered at the FAC free?

• Answer: Yes!

• Question: What should clients bring when they visit the center? How long should they plan to stay?

• Answer: Initially when they call or visit the center they will register and an appointment will be set for them with a counselor.

  Initially they should bring:

  • Any notice or Letter that they have received

  • Their most recent Loan Statement

  • Two months Bank Statements

  • Two current Pay Stubs

  • Their situation will determine length of stay

City of West Palm Beach Housing and Community Development
401 Clematis Street, 3rd Floor, West Palm Beach, Florida 33401

Mailing Address
P.O. Box 3366 West Palm Beach, Florida 33402

Phone: (561) 822-1583