Encinitas Library to Host Award-Winning Foreclosure Clinic to Help Community Save Homes

Editor’s Note: The following news release is from San Diego County’s Office of Communications.

San Diego County Library (SDCL) was recently named the 2012 Library of the Year by Library Journal, a respected industry publication, for SDCL's innovations and excellence in service to customers. One of the services recognized in the award was the library's foreclosure prevention HOME Clinics, which was conferred the Highsmith Library Innovation Award on June 24 at the American Library Association's annual conference. SDCL is continuing to partner with the Housing Opportunities Collaborative to offer the award-winning clinics each month this year. The next HOME Clinic is taking place on Saturday, July 21 at the Encinitas Library, 540 Cornish Dr, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

"The HOME Clinics are led by actual professionals and they provide assistance that works," said HOME Clinic attendee Jeffery Broussard. "They provide a legitimate solution; they helped me save my home."

The HOC is a HUD-approved housing agency that provides attendees with specialized assistance and educational resources to promote informed financial decision making. The County Library has partnered with the HOC to offer HOME Clinics since 2009, and have served over 3,100 families. The market value savings for customers is over $2.7 million in fees and services to date. This free clinic will offer educational sessions and give individuals an opportunity to speak confidentially with lawyers, housing experts and mortgage counselors about foreclosure and bankruptcy. Registration is strongly recommended, and participants must bring a photo I.D., loan documents, last mortgage statement and any lender documents to the event. A video featuring this program can be found at http://bit.ly/home-video.

"By partnering with the HOC to offer these free housing clinics, we are able to provide our customers with access to invaluable resources and opportunities to save their homes and build better lives," said Library Director José Aponte.

The HOME Clinic program at San Diego County Library has received numerous awards, including a Challenge Award from the California State Association of Counties. For more information or to register, call 1-800-462-0503, go to http://bit.ly/home-clinics or contact the library at www.sdcl.org.