VOA标准英语2010年-Philadelphia Foreclosure Prevention Pr

Homeowners facing foreclosure come to a courthouse in hopes to renegotiate their mortgages

When the U.S. economy fell into recession two years ago, millions of Americans began defaulting on their home mortgages, leaving many cities with neighborhoods of abandoned homes.  But in the East coast city of Philadelphia, people on all sides of the problem got together in an attempt to find a way to keep people in their homes.

It's 9 A.M. in city courtroom 676 and already a crowd of people facing foreclosure have lined up for a chance to keep their homes.

George Gordon came to the courthouse because he lost his job and as a result was experiencing difficulty keeping up with his mortgage payments

George Gordon waits patiently for a chance to meet face to face with his mortgage company's attorney.  "I originally got into trouble because I was working when I got the mortgage, but I lost my job.  Once I lost my job, everything started to go downhill from there."

Two years ago, as Philadelphia faced a staggering number of home foreclosures, city officials, lender attorneys and homeowner advocates sat down to see what could be done. 

They created Philadelphia's foreclosure prevention program.  Judge Annette Rizzo took part in the negotiations¹. "And basically it is to take a brief freeze frame on individual cases to see if we can really break them down and have face to face communications between those representing consumers or homeowners with lender attorneys to see if deals can be struck," Rizzo said.

When home owners receive default notices from their mortgage companies, community advocates inform them of their rights.

 

Under the foreclosure prevention program, home owners have the right to meet with their lender to try to restructure their loan.  Housing counselors² like Mary Campbell  are also is available to help guide homeowners through the process.

George Gordon is now working.  The goal is to try to restructure his loan to keep his mortgage payments to within 31 percent of his income.

Lender attorney Christopher Denardo says given the number of mortgage defaults that banks face, restructuring the loans is advantageous³ for everyone involved. "If we are able to work something out with the borrower, were they get to keep their house, and my client gets to have payments according to the mortgage, that's a win for everybody," Denardo said.

Attorney fees, fees for property inspection⁴ and late fees are charged to the homeowner.  But all or part can be waved during negotiations.

Homeowners are represented during the negotiations by volunteer attorneys.

Gordon applied⁵ for the program back in July.  But he says his lender lost his paperwork.  His attorney succeeds in getting a one month continuance.

Even though his case was not resolved today, Gordon is relieved.

"What we are going to do is redo his calculations under the make a home affordable⁶ plan, of 31 percent of his gross income and see whether that pans out," Campbell explained.

Philadelphia officials say the foreclosure prevention program has allowed more than 1900 homeowners to avoid foreclosure, and another 3600 are going through the process. 
 

1 negotiations   

协商( negotiation的名词复数 )； 谈判； 完成（难事）； 通过

参考例句：

• negotiations for a durable peace 为持久和平而进行的谈判
• Negotiations have failed to establish any middle ground. 谈判未能达成任何妥协。

2 counselors   

n.顾问( counselor的名词复数 )；律师；（使馆等的）参赞；（协助学生解决问题的）指导老师

参考例句：

• Counselors began an inquiry into industrial needs. 顾问们开始调查工业方面的需要。 来自《现代英汉综合大词典》
• We have experienced counselors available day and night. ) 这里有经验的法律顾问全天候值班。） 来自超越目标英语 第4册

3 advantageous   

adj.有利的；有帮助的

参考例句：

• Injections of vitamin C are obviously advantageous.注射维生素C显然是有利的。
• You're in a very advantageous position.你处于非常有利的地位。

4 inspection   

n.检查，审查，检阅

参考例句：

• On random inspection the meat was found to be bad.经抽查，发现肉变质了。
• The soldiers lined up for their daily inspection by their officers.士兵们列队接受军官的日常检阅。

5 applied   

adj.应用的；v.应用，适用

参考例句：

• She plans to take a course in applied linguistics.她打算学习应用语言学课程。
• This cream is best applied to the face at night.这种乳霜最好晚上擦脸用。

6 affordable   

adj.支付得起的，不太昂贵的

参考例句：

• The rent for the four-roomed house is affordable.四居室房屋的房租付得起。
• There are few affordable apartments in big cities.在大城市中没有几所公寓是便宜的。