Here’s a sad stat: in July 2009, there were over 1,600 foreclosures filed in King County alone.  This economic downturn is continuing to take a toll on many individuals and families who have fallen behind, lost their jobs, or have been victims of predatory lending.

As a response to these staggering numbers, the City of Seattle and a group of nonprofits are taking action by hosting a Free Foreclosure Prevention Workshop.  They even got Mayor Nickels to do a PSA for the event (embedded above).

The workshop will take place on December 5th from 9am to 5pm at Cleveland High School (5511 15th Ave South, Seattle WA).

At this event, homeowners will be able to discuss refinancing or modifying their loans, they’ll be able to learn about foreclosure prevention programs, and they’ll learn about the foreclosure process so that they can avoid scams.

The reason I’m posting this is two-fold: to spread the word about a great event and to get volunteers.

Volunteers:
If you fortunate enough to not have to worry about unaffordable mortgage payments, you should consider taking some time off to help your neighbors in need by volunteering at this event.  Volunteers are needed on 11/20 for outreach (going around town putting up posters in storefronts) and on 12/5 at the day of the event.

If you’re interested in volunteering, you can contact Nick Zar at ZarNick95@msn.com.

Event Details:
If you plan on attending this event, you’ll need to bring copies of the following documents:

• Photo ID
• Social Security card
• Last 2 years W-2′s & tax returns
• Last 2 months pay stubs
• Last 2 bank statements
• Monthly mortgage statements
• Household budget
• Layoff notice from employer (if you have one)
• Medical letter from doctor (if you have one)

If you have any questions about the event, you can call the Urban League at (800)368-1455.

Please make sure you tell people about this useful event!