Featuring
	Lisa Madigan Illinois Attorney General Award Recipient
	Robin Kelly Democratic Party Nominee For Illinois Treasurer Award Presenter
	Frank M. Zuccarelli, Supervisor Thornton Township Award Recipient

On Thursday, April 29th, South Suburban Housing Center, the regional fair housing advocacy organization serving the south suburbs since 1975, will present its 2010 Fair Housing Achievement Awards at its 35th Anniversary Celebration Reception.  Topping the list of recipients this year is Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan, who is scheduled to accept the award in person.  The two other awardees include Thornton Township and south suburban homeowners, the Collins family, who successfully averted mortgage foreclosure.  Robin Kelly, the Democratic Party nominee for Illinois State Treasurer, who received this award in 2002, will appear as a presenter at the event.

Lisa Madigan is being honored for the aggressive initiatives taken by the Attorney General’s office to address the mortgage foreclosure crisis in the state.  Under her direction legal action has been taken against the abusive practices displayed by some of the largest national subprime mortgage lenders, Countrywide Mortgage and Wells Fargo.   Madigan has introduced legislation and implemented increased education and outreach efforts to prevent mortgage rescue fraud scams from preying on homeowners experiencing financial difficulties as well as increasing other consumer fraud awareness pertaining to lending.  The Attorney General’s Office has also established a special unit to directly assist families victimized by predatory loan practices involved in the legal actions taken, with counseling and advocacy assistance.   This unit has been a valuable resource for advice and to take referrals from private foreclosure counseling programs such as the one operated by the Housing Center.

Thornton Township is being recognized with a Fair Housing Achievement Award for its active implementation of programs and events to promote cultural diversity and understanding.  Under the direction of Supervisor Frank Zuccarelli, Thornton is the only township in the area to have an established and actively operating Human Relations Commission.  This body has been addressing and promoting cultural diversity and awareness through unity building special events, and other community service projects, for the last twelve years.

A third award is being given to the south suburban Collins family who sought help from the Housing Center’s foreclosure counseling program when faced with a threaten foreclosure action.  Shortly before contacting SSHC the Collins’ had also fallen victim to a credit repair scam that could have led to disastrous results.  SSHC was able to immediately recognize the scam, advise them to get out, and begin immediately working with their loan servicer on a workout plan.  After a few months of receiving counseling assistance, temporary, then permanent, loan modifications were agreed to by the loan servicer, saving the Collins’ home from foreclosure. 

The awards will be presented at a reception held at Chicago Gaelic Park in Oak Forest on the evening of April 29th.  Sponsorship support for this event has been provided by Harris Bank and First Midwest Bank.  All proceeds from the reception will be devoted to homeownership preservation efforts of the Housing Center assisting families with mortgage default and foreclosure problems in the south suburbs.  For additional information contact the Housing Center at (708) 957-4674.