A new program is bringing hope to thousands of Atlanta residents who are at risk of losing their homes to foreclosure.
When 2006 RealtyTrac statistics showed Georgia ranking second nationwide in foreclosures, the city of Atlanta quickly forged a partnership with several nonprofits and created HOPE— a comprehensive foreclosure prevention program that offers a 24-hour, toll-free hotline and face-to-face loss mitigation counseling with experts.

It took more than the support of Atlanta Mayor Shirley Franklin and other city officials to set the program in action. Organizations like NeighborWorks America, the Consumer Credit Counseling Services of Greater Atlanta, the Fannie Mae foundation, the Homeownership Preservation Foundation, and the United Way also are working together to provide most of the services. Distressed homeowners opting for private counseling sessions can speak with experts over the phone by calling HOPE’s hotline (888.995.4673).
City officials like Mayor Franklin were inspired to create the program when real estate statistics showed the Atlanta metro area accounting for  63,737 of the state’s 75,975 home closure filings in 2006.
“Hope is not lost for homeowners in financial crises,” said Mayor Franklin when announcing the new program. “The city is committed to identifying ways to prevent foreclosure, and it begins with making sure homeowners know about the HOPE hotline and options that they have to save their homes.”