"The financial downturn has affected everyone in the country, especially
in Palm Beach County. Homeownership is a staple of being an American.
Through the efforts of this Task Force, we aim to give HOPE to those in
our community who are in danger of losing their homes. The first
business of government is to protect and to serve. There is no greater
goal now than to protect our homes from foreclosure."

The Governor’s Florida Home Ownership Promotes the Economy (“HOPE”) Task Force is established to develop a state plan of action to address escalating foreclosure rates and to identify effective ways to preserve home ownership for Floridians. Palm Beach County has been suffering from a high rate of foreclosures in the home and condominium markets. The outline of the Governor’s vision will be applied to specific instances of foreclosures here in the real estate market.

HOPE for Palm Beach County is hereby established as an outreach of the statewide task force. Its members shall consist of the following:
-Maria Lorts Sachs, State Representative, District 86
-Burt Aaronson, County Commissioner
-Susan Whelchel, Mayor of Boca Raton
-Rita Ellis, Mayor of Delray Beach
-Jerry Taylor, Mayor of Boynton Beach
-Cyd Spiro, CEO, Regent Bank
-Howard Milchman, Esquire
-Joseph Kaknes, Mortgage Expert
-Brian Lipshy, Esquire, Saraga and Lipshy
-Louis Caplan, Esquire, Sachs and Sax
-Mike Owen, Realtors Association of Palm Beach County

HOPE for Palm Beach County will have the authority to review the following issues:
1. An analysis of those mortgages that are in danger of arrearages
2. An assessment of available financial resources (public and private) to assist Palm Beach County homeowners facing foreclosure
3. Recommendations designed to assist the homeowner in maintaining homeownership
4. Practical solutions to assist the homeowner in working with the bank to maintain their home ownership
The mission of the Task Force is to assist the citizens of Palm Beach County to maintain homeownership by bringing together banking and mortgage industry representatives, lawyers specializing in home and condominium real estate, city officials, and real estate policy advocates to find practical solutions to the growing foreclosure problem.
For further information contact:
Michael Lapidus
The office of Representative Maria Lorts Sachs
Phone: (561)266-6645
Email: maria.sachs@myfloridahouse.gov

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