Landover, MD - Today, Congresswoman Donna F. Edwards (D-MD) hosted "Save Your Home" - a housing foreclosure forum - at the Prince George's County Sports and Learning Complex. Prince George's County Executive Jack B. Johnson welcomed the participants along with Congresswoman Edwards. Hundreds of homeowners and tenants, along with practitioners from the government and non-profit sectors attended the event. The forum included workshops and individual sessions by attorneys, housing counselors, and service lenders.

"Prince George's County continues to suffer from the highest foreclosure rate in Maryland," said Congresswoman Edwards. "Debt-strapped and trapped in high-cost loans, homeowners are losing their homes and the financial benefits that equity and appreciation should afford. While it is important that we work to address this issue in Congress, we also must take steps in our own communities to offer assistance and information to people losing their homes to foreclosure. I hope today's forum provided useful information to participants to help homeowners save their homes."

During the forum, homeowners and tenants learned about their legal rights, refinancing and other foreclosure prevention strategies, and the options available to them if they are behind in their mortgage payments, in default, have received a foreclosure notice, or are in post-foreclosure status. Many took advantage of individual meetings with attorneys, housing counselors, and lenders who were on-site to address individual situations and help develop plans with homeowners to keep their homes.

According to RealtyTrac, there are over 2,000 homes in Maryland's 4th Congressional District currently in foreclosure or default.