JALA saves Jacksonville couple’s home from foreclosure after job loss put them behind on loan
“Scott Stief,” 57, a local government employee, came to Jacksonville Area Legal Aid when he and his wife, “Emily” were about to lose their home to foreclosure. They had fallen behind on their home equity line of credit payments after Emily lost her nursing job of 25 years. Although Scott was working with the bank, the lender nonetheless started foreclosure proceedings. Scott and Emly were having difficulty determining the amount they needed for reinstatement of the loan because of the interest payments and type of loan, and they had been served with a foreclosure notice. JALA attorney Mike Pelkowski immediately began working to help the Stiefs avoid foreclosure, walking Scott through his court hearing. JALA housing counselor Joy Bryant-Baucom meanwhile corresponded with the bank’s lawyers regarding the reinstatement figures and helped the Stiefs obtain City of Jacksonville Foreclosure Intervention Program funds. With the right reinstatement information and the city funds, she was able to get a check sent to the bank in the amount needed to get the loan reinstated.