The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) and the Patricia Roberts Harris National Fair Housing Training Academy (NFHTA) have announced a new education initiative designed to address fraudulent, predatory and unfair lending practices.
The NFHTA and HUD's Fair Housing Assistance Program partners will provide a series of free public seminars in eight cities across the country to help educate the public on lending issues and how to avoid foreclosure.Â
Two- to three-day seminars are scheduled to be held in Cleveland; Fort Worth, Texas; Los Angeles; Miami; Phoenix; Philadelphia; Salt Lake City; and Stockton, Calif.
"In order to combat discriminatory lending and fraud, community advocates must be armed with education, training and strategies to help the public," says John Trasviña, HUD Assistant Secretary for Fair Housing and Equal Opportunity. "These seminars will allow participants to begin to obtain advice and, if necessary, file fair-housing complaints."
Participants will receive hands-on experience with the lending process, using actual loan documents and paperwork. All seminars are free and open to the public on a first-come, first-serve basis.Â
SOURCE: HUD
