This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2007, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.
Low-income families may receive specialized advice on becoming homeowners, thanks to federal grants to train Utah social workers as housing counselors. Announced last week by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, the funds will support programs that educate new and prospective homeowners on predatory lending practices, mortgage fraud and financial planning to avoid foreclosure. Utah so far has avoided the brunt of the mortgage crisis that is affecting the rest of the country. About 0.55 percent of Utah home loans were in foreclosure at the end of the second quarter, down from 0.74 in the same three months of 2006, according to a September report from the Mortgage Bankers Association. Nationally, foreclosures hit a record high last spring. Grants will go to the following Utah agencies:
* $67,000 to Community Action Services of Provo
* $30,000 to Utah State University Family Life Center in Logan
* $27,600 to Your Community Connection of Ogden
* $20,000 to Salt Lake Community Action Program
- Erin Alberty
