New Grant Will Support Indiana's Foreclosure Prevention Services

INDIANAPOLIS -- Attorney General Greg Zoeller announced Tuesday that a new grant will help support Indiana Legal Services' foreclosure prevention services for low-income residents. The grant will also be used to fund a partnership between Indiana law schools and ILS.

ILS provides legal aid for Hoosiers in all 92 counties. Zoeller says this grant will help residents who need legal aid during the foreclosure process.

“These are people who can be suffering under financial losses, can be teetering on bankruptcy, and they often find themselves in a vulnerable position and are too easily victims,” Zoeller said.

ILS prevented 118 foreclosures in 2015. Zoeller says the $300,000 grant won’t cover all of the cost for the free legal services, but ILS also receives money every year from the federal government and private donations.

The grant comes from money received in a multi-state settlement with Chase Bank over alleged unlawful debt collection practices. The judge ruled the funds be used for consumer protection.

Zoeller says the grant will benefit not just ILS and the clients they help, but also the students who will intern with ILS. Students from law schools like Indiana Tech in Fort Wayne will get legal experience assisting struggling homeowners who are facing foreclosure.