Amid an evolving foreclosure crisis, LEDC is increasing its efforts to reach out to tenants in multifamily rental properties facing foreclosure and to homeowners struggling with their mortgage payments in the DC metro area.

The foreclosure crisis has widened over time from largely impacting individuals in single family homes due to the prevalence of subprime mortgages and persistent unemployment to tenants living in multifamily buildings that are paying rent to landlords that have received a notice of foreclosure. LEDC organizers are informing tenants in these properties that they have the right to stay and pay rent to the new owner – often times, the bank. Many tenants are struggling to keep their utilities and water services on, and tenants have the right to take measures to protect their quality of life as their landlords face foreclosure. 

LEDC's Homeownership program is continuing to encourage struggling homeowners to seek help from homeownership counselors before they fall behind on their mortgage payments. According to data from the DC-based Urban Institute, the rate of struggling homeowners facing possible foreclosure within the next 90 days in the District of Columbia equals if not exceeds the rate of those facing foreclosure within the same time period in Montgomery County. Recent directives from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development are now encouraging homeowners with mortgages backed by the Federal Housing Administration to apply for loan mitigation assistance to avoid foreclosure.