How to Get Help: 901-432-4621
Campaign
Details:
This campaign, launched on April 26, 2004, covers the city of Memphis and Shelby County. The lead agency for the campaign is Memphis Area Legal Services (MALS). The campaign is a component of MALS’ comprehensive housing counseling activities. Calls are received through the designated Don’t Borrow Trouble telephone line and through the housing unit’s general intake process. After the initial interview, a checklist is used to identify the terms and conditions of the loan and any applicable state and/or federal statues of limitations are noted. If the call can be handled by MALS through litigation, mediation, loss mitigation, etc., the case is assigned to a case handler who identifies possible solutions to the problem. The ultimate goal is to help the client remain in the property. MALS has filed fourteen federal lawsuits, mediated ten cases and negotiated with lenders to have the terms of several loans modified.
A combination of paid advertising, mass mailings and grassroots outreach promotes the message of the campaign including paid print and electronic ads; news articles in local papers; workshops/seminars; distributing printed brochures and posters; community access talk programs; fact sheets in neighborhood newsletters and other outlets such as Meals on Wheels; web sites; meetings of services agencies and neighborhood associations; and public hearings.
Partners:
| City of Memphis | Division of Housing and Community Development | Memphis Area Legal Services |
| Community Development Council DEBT Collaborative (represents 80 agencies) | Memphis Area Community Development | Organization Shelby County Department of Housing |