On December 17, 2008, the first Mediation Training took place at the HMFA.  The purpose of this training was to instruct counselors specifically in the New Jersey Judiciary Foreclosure Mediation Program that was officially launched by Governor Corzine in January 2009.  This Program is available to homeowners with an owner-occupied residential property who have received a foreclosure complaint.  The goal is to assist these homeowners to develop a compromise that benefits both them and the servicer/lender. The State provides them with access to housing counselors, mediators and lawyers to support the mediation process.

The foreclosure counselors that attended this training are from Agencies all over the state that have entered into an agreement with HMFA to participate in this Mediation Program.

Those contributing to the training were Eric Max, Director of Citizen Relations, Public Advocate’s Office; Thomas Hunt, Assistant Director of Department of Banking and Insurance; Kevin Wolfe, Esq., Administrative Office of the Courts; and Rebecca Schore, Senior Attorney for Legal Services. 

HMFA is planning another training opportunity on February 25th to include more counselors and to provide a forum to answer questions and address related issues.

To learn more about this and other foreclosure prevention programs, go to HMFA's homepage and click on Foreclosure Prevention Resources.