WREX.com – Rockford’s News LeaderAttorney General has message for Rockford residents

Attorney General has message for Rockford residents

By  Marissa Alter

ROCKFORD (WREX) - Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan has a message.  Free, legitimate help is out there for Illinois homeowners on the brink of foreclosure.

Madigan made a stop in Rockford Tuesday to push that.  She addressed a packed room, talking about her office's efforts to help people keep their homes and to prosecute predatory lenders.

Bob Campbell with the Rockford Area Affordable Housing Coalition began doing forclosure prevention counseling 6 or 7 years ago. "In reality,we've been working with hundreds of families before anybody said there was crisis," he says.

This year, the group's on track to hit 500 families, its most so far.

And the problem's not just in Rockford. Attorney General Lisa Madigan says last year, 100,000 foreclosure notices went out in Illinois. She thinks this year will be worse.

That's why Madigan came to Rockford - to let the community know the numbers don't have to rise.  Her office has set up a homeowner's hotline. "What we need people to know is that this help is out there and it is avilable. And people should not be ashamed to come forward and ask for help," Madigan said.

So far, her office has taken 13,000 calls in about 14 months. But she says tens of thousands of people aren't taking advantage of it. "If you don't reach out for free legitimate help, you'll be contacted by someone who wants to scam you, wants to take your money. They don't save your home, they don't end up contacting your lender, they don't get you a modification, they don't represent you in court, they just take your money."

In fact, the problem is so prevalent, Madigan's office filed lawsuits against 24 companies accused of scams. They have investigations into dozens more. Madigan says, "Please don't fall prey to a scam artisit when trying to save your home. Please reach out for legitimate help."

If you want help, that hotline number is 1-866-544-7151. Or you can go to www.attorneygeneral.gov.

Madigan was also in town to tour Crusader Clinic.  Her office announced Crusader will get $192,000, part of a $2.7 million grant. That money will go towards buying generic prescription drugs for Crusader clients.