Attorney General Tom Horne Awards Job Training Grants From National Mortgage Settlement Funds

Phoenix, AZ (Wednesday, February 26, 2014) - Attorney General Tom Horne today announced the award of over $600,000 to fund job training and employment search services programs for individuals impacted by foreclosure. These programs are funded by the national mortgage settlement reached with the nation’s five largest mortgage loan servicers (Ally/GMAC, Bank of America, Citi, JPMorgan Chase and Wells Fargo). The Attorney General’s Office bargained hard to the last minute, and bought $2 billion into Arizona from this settlement, to keep people in their homes and help the Arizona economy.

Arizona Women’s Education and Employment, Inc. (“AWEE”) received an award of $305,580 to serve individuals in Maricopa County, and Pima County Community Services received an award of $270,097 to serve individuals in Pima County.  

These new programs will provide training for in-demand occupations, employment and placement services. Eligible individuals include foreclosed homeowners, renters evicted due to foreclosure, participants in transitional housing programs who are homeless as a result of foreclosure or foreclosure-related eviction, and homeowners at risk of foreclosure who will be able to maintain their mortgage payments with appropriate job training.  

“These job training grants help borrowers stay in their homes, a major priority for this Office,” said Attorney General Tom Horne. “These new programs are in addition to the direct assistance to homeowners that has already been given in the form of restitution, and are meant to help victims of the foreclosure crisis get back on their feet.”

The job training and employment search grants are part of an array of programs and direct consumer support funded through the National Mortgage Settlement funds administered through the Attorney General’s Office. In addition to job training, the Attorney General’s Office has awarded contracts for housing counseling, legal services, a loan fund program, and relocation assistance. More information about the mortgage settlement programs is available at www.azmortgageresource.gov.

JOB TRAINING PROGRAM INFORMATION

The job training programs announced today are expected to launch in the next few months. 

Questions for Arizona Women’s Education and Employment, Inc. may be directed to Marie Sullivan, President and CEO, AWEE, (602) 223-4333 or (602) 576-4333 (cell), or Steve Carr, The Kur Carr Group, Inc., (602) 317-3040.

For more information about Pima County’s job training grant proposal, contact Dorothée Harmon at (520) 243-6760. For information about housing resources, contact Pima County Housing Center (El Banco) (520) 624-2947 and for information about employment and training services, contact Pima County One-Stop at 243-6700.

ARIZONA ATTORNEY GENERAL’S OFFICE

People with questions regarding the mortgage settlements or who wish to file a consumer complaint can visit the Arizona Attorney General’s Office website at www.azag.gov, contact us by email at [email protected], or by phone at 602-542-1797 or 1-855-256-2834 (outside Phoenix area).  An overview describing the AGO's mortgage related activities since the mortgage settlements were announced is available at www.azag.gov.