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Oth T h i l bl ?Other Technical problems?Contact WebEx support ppEvent Number: 716 910 459Ph 1 866 229 3239Phone: 1-866-229-3239

Today’s ProducersJennifer Peterson

WebJunction C it M

Kendra Morgan

WebJunction P MCommunity Manager Program Manager

Today’s Panelists

Joe ManionPublic Services Division 

Nicola VianaHomeownership Specialist

Manager, Washington County Library

Specialist,   Washington County,Housing and Redevelopment Authority

Brian Huffman Washington County Law Lib i

Randall Ryder consumerlawyer.mn

Librarian

Melinda LudwiczakMELSA Project Manager

Libraries, Jobs and Small Business Webinar Series

2011

WebJunction and MELSA, the Metropolitan Library Service Agency, Minnesota

Metropolitan Library Service AgencySt P l Mi tSt. Paul, Minnesota

Serves 8 Library SystemsServes 8 Library SystemsAnoka County Library Ramsey County Library

Carver County Library St. Paul Public LibraryCarver County Library St. Paul Public Library

Dakota County Library Scott County Library

Hennepin County Library Washington County Libraryp y y g y y

MELSA Jobs and Small Business MELSA Jobs and Small Business T k F T k F Task Force Task Force

Service PhilosophyService Philosophyp yp y

C ll b t ith it tCollaborate with community partners

Establish a seamless entry systemEstablish a seamless entry system

Where every door is the right doorWhere every door is the right door

Public Libraries and Public Libraries and the Tough Economythe Tough Economy

f f Lack of employment leads to financial difficulties.

Role for public libraries – trustworthy consumer information

Home Foreclosure Information

Law Library Workshops

Today’s Panelists

Nicola VianaHomeownership Specialist

Joe ManionPublic Services Division  Specialist,   

Washington County,Housing and Redevelopment 

Manager, Washington County Library

Authority

Randall Ryder consumerlawyer.mn

Brian Huffman Washington County Law Lib iLibrarian

Foreclosure Prevention

Joe ManionPublic Services Division Manager, Washington C t LibForeclosure Prevention 

Legal ResourcesCounty Library

Foreclosure rate doubledForeclosure rate doubled from 2006 to 2010Washington County rate tripled

f60% of households working with a counselor avoided foreclosure in 2009Barbara Dacy, Executive Director, Washington County HRA

Foreclosure prevention workshops

44 workshops as of May 2011

Librarians lending a handLegal information for people in crisis

Library partnered with Law Library to inform people of their legal optionsMonthly workshops through January 2012y p g y

Schedule

• Days• Times• Locations

Reserve• Meeting rooms

Publicize

• Media releases• Homepage • Events calendar

Present

• Branch hosts• Expert presents

Evaluate

• Attendance• Outcomes

ProcessLibrary provides facilities

HRA & Attorneys provide expertise

AttendanceJanuary 2010 through March 2011

380 attendees380 attendees

280 households

Washington County HRAWashington County HRAForeclosure Prevention Foreclosure Prevention

Library WorkshopsLibrary WorkshopsLibrary WorkshopsLibrary Workshops

Nicola VianaHomeownership SpecialistSpecialist,   Washington County,Housing and Redevelopment Authority

What is a Housing and What is a Housing and R d l A h i ?R d l A h i ?Redevelopment Authority? Redevelopment Authority?

Promote community and economic developmentPromote community and economic development Promote community and economic developmentPromote community and economic development Provide and maintain affordable, decent and Provide and maintain affordable, decent and

safe housingsafe housinggg Educate and counsel people throughout the Educate and counsel people throughout the

homeownership processhomeownership processp pp p

Minnesota Home Ownership CenterMinnesota Home Ownership Centerwww.hocmn.orgwww.hocmn.org

Provides funding, training, and guidance to:Provides funding, training, and guidance to: Provides funding, training, and guidance to: Provides funding, training, and guidance to:

Over 50 agencies throughout MinnesotaOver 50 agencies throughout MinnesotaOver 50 agencies throughout MinnesotaOver 50 agencies throughout Minnesota Deliver homeownership education and Deliver homeownership education and

foreclosure counselingforeclosure counselingforeclosure counselingforeclosure counseling

Foreclosure Prevention ServicesForeclosure Prevention Services Free and confidentialFree and confidential Information about the

f lforeclosure process Financial and mortgage

counselingcounseling Identify options and help

weigh pros and cons Review programs available Communicate with lender

A id d t ti Avoid predatory practices Smooth transition counseling,

as neededas needed

How the Workshops BeganHow the Workshops BeganHow the Workshops BeganHow the Workshops Began Hennepin County Libraries, Minnesota Hennepin County Libraries, Minnesota Home Ownership Center came to us with ideaHome Ownership Center came to us with idea Home Ownership Center came to us with ideaHome Ownership Center came to us with idea Nov 2009: Met with Washington County Library Nov 2009: Met with Washington County Library

Seemed a natural fitSeemed a natural fit Seemed a natural fitSeemed a natural fit Researched models across the country with the Researched models across the country with the

help of NeighborWorkshelp of NeighborWorkshelp of NeighborWorkshelp of NeighborWorks

FormatFormatFormatFormat 60 minute presentation60 minute presentation Weekly at libraries in Weekly at libraries in

Washington CountyWashington County

Topics:Topics: Foreclosure processForeclosure process Foreclosure processForeclosure process Options for keeping and Options for keeping and

leaving the homeleaving the homeTi f t lki t l dTi f t lki t l d Tips for talking to lenderTips for talking to lender

Predatory practicesPredatory practices How counseling worksHow counseling workso cou se g o so cou se g o s

Homeowner StepsHomeowner StepsHomeowner Steps Homeowner Steps 1.1. Register for workshop.Register for workshop.

(with HRA or walk(with HRA or walk in)in)(with HRA, or walk(with HRA, or walk--in)in)

2 Complete application2 Complete application2. Complete application 2. Complete application and gather documents.and gather documents.

3. Attend workshop.3. Attend workshop.

4. Schedule appointment 4. Schedule appointment with a counselor at the with a counselor at the

k hk hworkshop. workshop.

Benefits to the ModelBenefits to the ModelBenefits to the ModelBenefits to the Model

Increased efficacy of counseling sessionsIncreased efficacy of counseling sessions Increased efficacy of counseling sessionsIncreased efficacy of counseling sessions More efficient use of timeMore efficient use of time

Better understanding of foreclosure processBetter understanding of foreclosure process Better understanding of foreclosure processBetter understanding of foreclosure process Gives counselors time to prepGives counselors time to prep

I d lI d l t fi i l litt fi i l lit Increased longIncreased long--term financial literacy term financial literacy Greater number of homeowners servedGreater number of homeowners servedDecreased sense of isolation Decreased sense of isolation

Benefits to Partnering with the LibraryBenefits to Partnering with the Library Trusted resource in the communityTrusted resource in the community Library is a critical resource for Library is a critical resource for

homeowners facing foreclosurehomeowners facing foreclosure Books, magazines and newspapersBooks, magazines and newspapersg p pg p p Computer, internet, and email accessComputer, internet, and email access Access to resources and professionals Access to resources and professionals pp

Ability to help with outreach and marketingAbility to help with outreach and marketingGreat venues and space for groupsGreat venues and space for groupsGreat venues and space for groupsGreat venues and space for groups

Aug 19 2010Aug 19 2010 –– June 9 2011June 9 2011Aug, 19 2010 Aug, 19 2010 June, 9 2011June, 9 2011

Location Number of Attendees

Number of Households

Cottage Grove 56 43

Forest Lake 63 44Forest Lake 63 44

Oakdale 68 52

Woodbury 82 60Woodbury 82 60

Total 269 199Total 269 199

Find the Trusted Counseling Find the Trusted Counseling Agency in Your Area:Agency in Your Area:Agency in Your Area:Agency in Your Area:

Minnesota: Minnesota Homeownership Center: Minnesota: Minnesota Homeownership Center: ppwww.hocmn.orgwww.hocmn.org or (651) 659or (651) 659--9336, (866) 4629336, (866) 462--64666466

HUDHUD--approved counseling agency: approved counseling agency: pp g g ypp g g ywww.hud.gov/offices/hsg/sfh/hcc/hcs.cfmwww.hud.gov/offices/hsg/sfh/hcc/hcs.cfm

Agencies who receive NFMC (Federal) fundingAgencies who receive NFMC (Federal) funding Agencies who receive NFMC (Federal) funding Agencies who receive NFMC (Federal) funding (National Foreclosure Mitigation Counseling) (National Foreclosure Mitigation Counseling) www.findaforeclosurecounselor.org/network/nfmc_loowww.findaforeclosurecounselor.org/network/nfmc_lookup/kup/kup/kup/

National Foundation for Credit CounselingNational Foundation for Credit Counselingffwww.nfcc.orgwww.nfcc.org

Other StrategiesOther StrategiesOther StrategiesOther Strategies

Webinars, for rural areasWebinars, for rural areas Webinars, for rural areasWebinars, for rural areas Have flyers posted and bookmarks availableHave flyers posted and bookmarks available Encompass several personal finance issuesEncompass several personal finance issues Encompass several personal finance issuesEncompass several personal finance issues Invite a counselor to hold “office hours”Invite a counselor to hold “office hours” Add local agency and resources to your websiteAdd local agency and resources to your website Add local agency and resources to your websiteAdd local agency and resources to your website

***Strategies depend on agency’s staff and***Strategies depend on agency’s staff and***Strategies depend on agency s staff and ***Strategies depend on agency s staff and capacitycapacity

Who Could Benefit from Who Could Benefit from Foreclosure Counseling?Foreclosure Counseling?

Concerned about their Concerned about their mortgage paymentmortgage paymentg g p yg g p y

Missed paymentsMissed payments In the redemption periodIn the redemption period In the redemption periodIn the redemption period Experienced a change in Experienced a change in

their circumstance: their circumstance: t e c cu sta cet e c cu sta ce Job lossJob loss DivorceDivorce Death in the familyDeath in the family

Questions?Questions?Questions?Questions?

Contact Information:Contact Information:Contact Information:Contact Information:

Nicola VianaNicola VianaNicola VianaNicola VianaWashington County HRAWashington County HRA321 Broadway Ave St Paul Park MN 55071321 Broadway Ave St Paul Park MN 55071321 Broadway Ave, St. Paul Park MN 55071321 Broadway Ave, St. Paul Park MN 55071651651--458458--0936, ext 5530936, ext 553nviana@wchra comnviana@wchra comnviana@wchra.comnviana@wchra.com

Legal Workshops: PartnershipLegal Workshops: Partnership Buildingg

Brian R. Huffman 

June 21, 2011

Brian Huffman Washington County Law LibrarianLibrarian

Locating Legal Partners

•State Bar Association

L l L l Aid O•Local Legal Aid Org. (LawHelp.org)

•Law Schools

•Local AALL Chapter

http://www.flickr.com/photos/theaterculture/4721293140/

Hot Topics•Small Claims Court

Di•Divorce•Child Support•Child Custody•Bankruptcy•Consumer Debt Relief

•Criminal Expungementp g

•Wills & Power of Attorney

•Tenant/Landlord Rights•Paternity•Paternity•Judgment Collection

http://www.flickr.com/photos/vblibrary/4480092264/

Presentation Models

W bi•Webinars

•Live Discussion Seminars

•Panel Seminars

•YouTube movies

http://www.flickr.com/photos/deltamike/1450214894/

Washington County ExperienceWashington County Experience Applied for a LSTA Grant with State Library Services

Obtained $25,000 grant to purchase laptops, printer, projector, software and carrying case; provided in kind contributions of hours, brochure printing marketing and transportationbrochure printing, marketing and transportation

Program: Librarians Lending a Hand; Set up monthly legal topics with goal to teach public how to find and use online legal resourcesgoal to teach public how to find and use online legal resources

Obtained speakers through local Legal Aid group

Advertised online, local newspapers and in libraries

Registration/Space Planning similar to HRA workshops mentioned by Joe Manion

Cautionary Tale: Librarians & the U th i d P ti f LUnauthorized Practice of Law

Role of Librarian is to guide patrons to legal resources and 

partners – See Public Librarians and Access to Justice 

website for useful information.

Contact Information

Brian Huffman

Washington County Law LibraryWashington County Law Library

651‐430‐6330

brian huffman@co washington mn usbrian.huffman@co.washington.mn.us

Consumer debt issues

Randall Ryderlwww.consumerlawyer.mn

I sue debt collectors and defend consumers in debt collection lawsuits

Randall Ryder consumerlawyer.mn

Down economy = more debtDown economy more debt

• More debt = More debt – More collection attempts by debt collectors

More debt collection lawsuits– More debt collection lawsuits– Debt collection happens before lawsuits

Mi t l• Minnesota alone– 58,000 registered debt collectors– Tens of thousands of debt collection lawsuits

every year

Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA)(FDCPA)

• Protects consumers against abusive Protects consumers against abusive, deceptive, and unfair debt collection

• Federal statute applies in every state• Federal statute – applies in every state• Four concerns (what act addresses)

– Number of personal bankruptcies– Marital instability– Loss of jobs– Invasions of personal privacy

Common FDCPA ViolationsCommon FDCPA Violations

• Anything that is:Anything that is:– Untrue, unfair, undignified, or disrespectful

• Excessive phone calls• Excessive phone calls• Repeat calls to consumer’s workplace• Calling third parties to collect the debt• Harassing or abusing the consumerg g

FDCPA Protects ConsumersFDCPA Protects Consumers

• Gives every consumer the right to truth Gives every consumer the right to truth, fairness, dignity, and respect

• Fee shifting provision: debt collector pays • Fee shifting provision: debt collector pays the consumer’s attorney fees + costs

C t f l– Consumer gets a free lawyer• Consumer gets money in their pocket

– Statutory damages up to $1,000– Actual damages – TBD by jury

ResourcesResources• FTC debt collection factsheetFTC debt collection factsheet

– http://www.ftc.gov/bcp/edu/pubs/consumer/credit/cre18.shtm

• FTC debt collection video:– http://www.ftc.gov/multimedia/video/credp // g / / /

it/debt/debt-collection.shtm• State attorney general offices

– http://www.ag.state.mn.us/Brochures/pubDebtCollectionFactSheet.pdf

Resources Resources

• Beware of blogs and other random Beware of blogs and other random internet information

• Trusted blogs:• Trusted blogs:– www.consumerlawyer.mn

t t bl– www.caveatemptorblog.com

Remember: free attorney + $Remember: free attorney + $

• National Assoc Consumer AdvocatesNational Assoc. Consumer Advocates– http://www.naca.net/find-attorney

• In Minnesota: • In Minnesota: – www.consumerlawyer.mn

• Local legal aid offices– May not take case, but can refer

• Attorney general’s office (same)

Debt collection lawsuitsDebt collection lawsuits

• How collection works:How collection works:– Company hires debt collectors to collect debt

Collection fails– Collection fails– Company writes off debt, sells to a debt buyer

• Pennies on the dollar• Pennies on the dollar• Debt buyer sends out for collection

– Law firm gets the file sues consumer on Law firm gets the file, sues consumer on behalf of the debt buyer

Get served = get legal adviceGet served get legal advice

• Get served = time limit to answerGet served time limit to answer• No answer = you lose

D i hi l• Doing nothing = you lose• Bottom line = contact an attorney

Good news: worth fightingGood news: worth fighting

• Usually involves 3rd party Usually involves 3 party – Not the original creditor

• Cannot prove ownership of debt• Cannot prove ownership of debt• Cannot prove amount of debt

– Forward flow agreement – they agree to not receive the evidence they need

Smoking gun or squirtgun?Smoking gun or squirtgun?

• Crime scene: chain of evidenceCrime scene: chain of evidence– Officer, locker, lab, storage, court

• Debt scene: there is no chain• Debt scene: there is no chain– Creditor, somebody, debt buyer, somebody,

debt buyer debt buyerdebt buyer, debt buyer– Nobody knows where it’s been or who has

touched ittouched it

Doing nothing = you loseDoing nothing you lose

• Many consumers do nothingMany consumers do nothing– Unknown company

Don’t recognize debt/think they paid it– Don t recognize debt/think they paid it– Not their debt

Thi k l it i f k– Think lawsuit is fake– Disagree with amount

$2 000 d bt $6 000 ith i t t d f• $2,000 debt now $6,000 with interest and fees

ResourcesResources

• Need to answer – free answer form Need to answer free answer form – Minnesota only: www.consumerlawyer.mn

• Other states• Other states– Check NACA attorney websites

htt // t/fi d tt• http://www.naca.net/find-attorney– Contact legal aid organizations

htt // l h l /MN/i d f• http://www.lawhelpmn.org/MN/index.cfm• http://www.volunteerlawyersnetwork.org/• http://www smrls org/http://www.smrls.org/

ResourcesResources

• Beware of blogs and other random Beware of blogs and other random internet information

• Trusted blogs:• Trusted blogs:– www.consumerlawyer.mn

t t bl– www.caveatemptorblog.com

Th kThank you!you!

Melinda LudwiczakMELSA Project Manager

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