Legal Aid Testifies before D.C. Council Committee on Public Services and Consumer Affairs about Foreclosure Mediation Law
Consumer
DC Council
Housing
B, L, O & G keycaps of a keyword lying on a grey surface spelling out 'blog'

Share

Jen Ngai Lavallee, Staff Attorney

Last Thursday, June 28, Legal Aid testified before the D.C. Council Committee on Public Services and Consumer Affairs about the Saving D.C. Homes from Foreclosure Act and proposed legislative amendments.  The Act, initially passed as emergency legislation in the fall of 2010, requires lenders to offer mediation to distressed homeowners prior to moving forward with foreclosure.  Legal Aid testified in support of the mediation program and urged the Council to preserve, if not strengthen, certain provisions that Legal Aid argued are critical to the effectiveness and long-term success of the program -- such as the requirements that lenders provide documentation of their standing and mediate in good faith.  Legal Aid also recommended that the Council use the current draft bill as an opportunity to improve the program by adding a mechanism for post-mediation judicial review, which would provide increased fairness and finality of the process to all parties involved.  Legal Aid’s written testimony can be accessed here.

Latest Blogs Posts