The Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) and the National Fair Housing Alliance (NFHA) on Monday launched a new campaign to fight foreclosures and mortgage discrimination. Together, the organizations will create a national campaign that informs consumers about the alternatives to foreclosure, how to avoid predatory loan terms and how to recognize and report rental discrimination. “Many families, particularly minorities, have been victims of aggressive and misleading marketing of risky loan products and foreclosure rescue scams,” said HUD secretary Shaun Donovan at NFHA’s annual conference. “As we implement President Obama’s Making Home Affordable plan to deal with the foreclosure crisis we need to ensure that families in trouble with mortgages aren’t hurt a second time with scams.” The campaign is designed to target families in immediate need to refinance; families in or on the brink of foreclosure; families facing eviction or already in the rental market; and families ready to purchase a home. The outreach initiative includes a variety of media and languages and aims to ensure all families know their rights, said NFHA’s president Shanna Smith. Write to Kelly Curran.

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