The Connecticut Anti-Predatory Lending Task Force
Our mission is to promote responsible home ownership through education and to prevent predatory lending
practices.
It is our goal to provide the general home buying public as well as Realtors, Mortgage Lenders, and
Attorneys with the tools
and information with which to help anyone make an informed and appropriate decision
with regard to purchasing a home.
In January 2004, the Connecticut Fair Housing Center organized a group of community activists, fair housing advocates, attorneys, lenders, and others interested in combating predatory lending to meet to discuss predatory and abusive lending practices in Connecticut. The initial meetings were held to exchange information. During the next several months, the group continued to meet to discuss ways of assisting victims who were in danger of losing their homes and to decide how to educate all Connecticut residents on the presence of these abusive lenders. In July 2004, the group brought in the National Consumer Law Center to train more than 100 people how to recognize a predatory loan, how to educate others about avoiding these loans, and how to assist the homeowners who had been victimized.
This group has now become the Connecticut Anti-Predatory Lending Task Force. More than 40 agencies, towns, state officials, and private organizations are participating in this effort. It is a clearinghouse for information, education, and action in the fight against predatory and abusive loans. The Task Force’s work attracted the attention of Freddie Mac which offered to bring its “Don’t Borrow Trouble” anti-predatory lending campaign to Connecticut. In conjunction with the work of the Task Force, the “Don’t Borrow Trouble” Connecticut campaign publicizes the problem of predatory lending, advises borrowers to call 211/Infoline for help with lending issues, and provides housing counseling services and legal assistance to the victims of predatory lending.
The Education Committee is currently executing an initiative to teach at Board of Realtor meetings and Realtor continuing education classes. It is our goal to speak in front of all Board of Realtor divisions in the state by the end of 2007.
The Anti-Predatory Lending Task Force Education Committee has established the “Own it, Keep it!” initiative to help raise funds to spread awareness about the dangers of predatory lending. We want to encourage people to pledge their support and to “Be a Part of the Solution” by buying, selling and wearing our support bracelets. All the proceeds from the sale of the bracelets are used to perform educational outreach on predatory lending and prevention around Connecticut.
ANTI-PREDATORY LENDING EDUCATION COMMITTEE AS OF NOVEMBER 1, 2007 :
ORGANIZATION |
NAME |
E-MAIL ADDRESS |
 |
City of New London HCP |
Judi Cox |
|
|
Connecticut Association of Mortgage Brokers |
Michael Savanelli |
|
|
Connecticut Association of Realtors |
Judith Johannsen |
|
|
Connecticut Home Mortgage |
Jess Morales Ruán |
|
|
Connecticut Fair Housing Center |
Erin Boggs |
|
|
Connecticut Housing Finance Authority |
Mary Jane Kononchik |
|
|
Connecticut Mortgage Bankers Association |
Barbara Goodrich |
|
|
The First-Time HomeBuyer Magazine |
Siobhan Becker |
|
|
Housing Development Fund |
Melvina Peters |
|
|
Money Management International (CCCS) |
Diane Mull Sheryle McMillan |
|
|
Mutual Housing Association of Southwestern Connecticut |
Carol Sydnor |
|
|
Neighborhood Housing Services of New Britain |
Kyle Anderson |
|
|
Neighborhood Housing Services of Waterbury |
Robert Velardo |
|
|
New Alliance Bank |
Michael Johansen |
|
|
People’s United Bank |
Terence Floyd |
|
|
TD Banknorth |
Christine Traczyk |
|
|
CT Treasurer’s Office of Financial Education |
Carol Heller |
|
|
U.S. Department of Housing & Urban Development |
Marilyn Diaz
John Ertle
Sally Wright |
|
|
