APABA

The Asian Pacific American Bar Association (APABA) of South Florida is proud to announce its partnership with NANAY, a non-profit organization that provides supportive services to elders and youth, as well as housing-related services to low-income families in Miami-Dade County.

?We are glad to be of help to the families who are in need, especially in these times of economic crisis,? says Janet Bolin, President-elect of APABA, who recently secured the approval of its Board of Directors to collaborate with NANAY Housing Resource Center in providing pro-bono legal support for clients who are facing foreclosure.

The Miami-Dade Board of County Commissioners recently approved a grant award of $183,162 from CDBG-R for NANAY, Inc , as authorized by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, to provide at least 24 qualified homeowners with foreclosure prevention rescue funding of up to $7,500 on a first come, first eligible, first served basis so that they can retain their home and prevent foreclosure action on their property.

NANAY Housing Resource Center (NHRC), a non-profit affiliate of NANAY, Inc., also just signed a service contract for $100,000 with Miami-Dade County through the SHIP 2009 funds to provide a similar service, that allows up to $5,000 rescue funding for at least 20 families in danger of foreclosure.

As part of its partnership agreement with APABA, NANAY will schedule one Saturday a month for client intake and consultation with APABA legal volunteers, with regard to foreclosure-related issues. Two dates have already been scheduled (October 31 and November 28, 2009) for provision of voluntary service to NANAY clients by the APABA lawyers.

Prior to referring clients for legal counseling and support, NANAY will do initial screening to determine if they are eligible to receive rescue funding. To be eligible, the households must be at 80% or below of the area median income (AMI). This means that the income must be no more than $37,750 for a one-member household, $53,900 for a family of four, and $71,150 for a family of eight. The household must be delinquent for at least two (2) full months of mortgage payments or other qualified expenses, in receipt of a letter from the mortgage holder or qualified expense holder notifying the applicant of delinquency and/or intent to foreclose, and must show that the non-payment of their mortgage or other qualified expenses is due to loss of employment, sudden medical expenses, divorce or separation, death in family, unforeseen home repair bills, or sudden unaffordable increase of monthly mortgage payment.

The potential beneficiary also must have never previously received foreclosure rescue funding. The rescue funding disbursements shall be made only in situations where the funding will bring the applicant/owner current on their delinquent mortgage. Pursuant to federal requirements, federal funds cannot pay for more than three months of monthly mortgage payments.

NANAY, Inc. (National Alliance to Nurture the Aged and the Youth), is a Miami-based 501(c)(3) community-based organization that has been providing supportive services to elders and youth since 1994. Its nonprofit affiliate, NANAY Housing Resource Center provides homebuyer education, housing counseling, case management, government subsidy assistance to first time homebuyers, and foreclosure intervention programs.

APABA was formed in 2003 over concerns about the lack of any organization in South Florida dedicated to the legal interests of the Asian Pacific American community. Since its humble beginnings, APABA has grown steadily every year and now boasts an increasing membership of highly talented lawyers, jurists, and affiliated law students. Members range from solo practitioners, attorneys at large, multi-national law firms, government attorneys, law professors, and corporate in-house counsel.

For those who are interested in the new foreclosure prevention initiative, or those who are interested in supporting and donating to NANAY?s programs, please call Bennie Trinidad, NANAY Executive Vice-President and COO, at (305) 981-3232, or visit NANAY?s temporary address at 915 NE 125 Street, Room 203, North Miami, FL 33161.