Statement from the Homeowner Protection Coalition on Governor Hochul’s 2025 State of the State Address

New York, NY – Homeownership is critical to building equity, stabilizing neighborhoods and strengthening communities across New York State and Governor Hochul has made important commitments to support homeowners. But more is needed to address the scale of our affordability crisis and to keep homeowners in the homes they’re currently in. 

Below is a statement from Christie Peale, CEO & Executive Director, Center for NYC Neighborhoods on behalf of the Homeowner Protection Coalition, on Governor Hochul’s 2025 State of the State Address:

“We thank Governor Hochul for committing to expanding down payment assistance for first time homebuyers and supporting climate resilient retrofits. Additionally, many homeowners are displaced by private equity firms buying up real estate, and her proposal to limit these transactions is an important step to protecting homeowners.

“But we are eager to see the State take further steps – homeowners today are not just at risk from private equity, they are at risk from scams, deed thefts, rising costs, and more. New York is lucky to have the Homeowner Protection Program (HOPP) as a last line of defense for our homeowners and communities, but the Governor vetoed critical legislation to codify HOPP in December and has not yet committed to funding the $40 million necessary to support the over 90 nonprofits across the state that provide legal, financial and housing counseling to struggling New York homeowners 

“If Governor Hochul is truly committed to preserving homeownership in New York State and preventing private equity firms from scooping up homes in foreclosure, she must make funding for HOPP a priority so that every New Yorker, including low-income families and communities of color, can buy and maintain homes, avoid displacement, and continue to build generational roots in their communities.”

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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.