New task force targets saving homes
Ohio Treasurer Richard
Cordray will speak at the meeting.
WARREN — A Save Our Homes Task Force to reduce and prevent foreclosures is being formed in Trumbull County.
The kickoff meeting will be at 5 p.m. Dec. 19, in Room 117 of the Technology Building at the Kent State University Trumbull Campus in Champion.
The task force is being formed by the Trumbull County Planning Commission, state Sen. Capri Cafaro and state Treasurer Richard Cordray.
Cordray will speak at the meeting.
Alan Knapp, planning commissioner director, said the meeting’s purpose is to establish a volunteer group to educate people about the foreclosure crisis, as well as recruit volunteers to carry out specific tasks that will benefit county residents and reduce or prevent foreclosures.
These include developing fliers, hosting informational meetings and sponsoring training sessions.
Members of local governments, civic and social groups, educational institutions, business leaders, faith-based organizations and other community groups are being asked to volunteer.
Trumbull County experienced a 514-percent increase in foreclosure filings between 1995 and 2006 with 254 filings in 1995, compared with 1,560 filings in 2006, according to “Foreclosure Growth in Ohio 2007: A Report from Policy Matters Ohio.”
The report also said that filings in Ohio grew by double digits in 68 of Ohio’s 88 counties in 2006.
Gov. Ted Strickland created the Ohio Foreclosure Prevention Task Force, from which the final report was compiled and published in September.
Among the recommendations listed in the report are a public awareness campaign, including outreach and education efforts.
Cordray is chairman of the education and outreach committee.