Homeowner Protection Program (HOPP) Releases Statement in Response to Gov. Hochul’s Veto of Program’s Codification Bill

Below is a statement from the Homeowner Protection Program (HOPP) in response to Governor Kathy Hochul’s veto of SS7297A/A7636A, a bill sponsored by State Sen. Brian Kavanagh and Assemblymember Michaelle Solages, that would have enshrined HOPP into state law:

“The 92 legal services and non-profit partners of the Homeowner Protection Program (HOPP) are deeply  disappointed that Governor Hochul has chosen to veto the bill to codify HOPP–New York’s only tool that prevents deed theft and other scams before they happen— into law. The bill would have made HOPP permanent, signaling New York’s investment in the long-term stability of New York’s families and communities,  protecting New York’s homeowners from scams, preserving homeownership and preventing  displacement. We remain hopeful that the Governor will recognize the critical role of HOPP and include funding for it in the upcoming Executive Budget.

“For over a decade, HOPP has been the first and last lines of defense for tens of thousands of families — particularly among Black, brown, and low- and moderate-income households — who are at the greatest risk of losing their homes. HOPP has received broad bipartisan support in both the Senate and the Assembly, a testament to the broad recognition of the program’s importance. 

“In March, the State Attorney General’s office reported that homeownership issues involving mortgages and home repairs were among the top ten consumer complaints in 2023, further underscoring the need for HOPP funding to remain in place to protect vulnerable homeowners. In recent years, the legislature has championed funding for HOPP in order to keep the program alive.

“Stabilizing households and neighborhoods cannot wait. The best gift the Governor can give New Yorkers in default or foreclosure, this holiday season, is fully funding HOPP in the executive budget. We urge the state to ensure this vital program continues to protect the most vulnerable homeowners.”

About the Homeowner Protection Program: 

The Homeowner Protection Program (HOPP) was established in 2012 to provide legal services and housing counseling to New York homeowners at risk of losing their homes. Originally funded by the state’s bank settlement funds, the Homeowner Protection Program (HOPP) is comprised of 92 non-profit housing counseling and legal service providers across the state and helps struggling homeowners keep their homes by fighting deed theft and mortgage fraud scams, helping homeowners apply for grants and loan modifications and resolve tax liens, representing homeowners in court and finding alternative housing when they can no longer stay in their homes.

Over 150,000 families have been helped by HOPP. Last year alone, more than 20,000 people received assistance from the program—protecting their rights in court, lowering their bill payments and preventing avoidable foreclosures with home-saving solutions that benefit homeowners, lenders and local governments.

HOPP’s caseload doubled in the prior fiscal year, and with mortgage delinquencies on the rise, the families we serve in every county desperately need our help. New York’s mortgage default rates remain at record high levels, especially in communities of color, where those rates are more than double those for white homeowners.

HOPP is the model for the nation for homeownership preservation services because it funds legal services providers and housing counseling agencies to work in collaboration. Without housing counselors working as equal partners with legal services advocates, HOPP not only loses what makes it unique but also the expertise of hundreds of committed professionals providing services in every county in New York.

HOPP is also cost-effective, in large part because it stabilizes communities and preserves property values on which local government revenues depend. Historically, each $1 million invested in HOPP yields a return of over $5 million in tax and property cost savings. 

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