Clergy Breakfast to address the Foreclosure Crisis in Central Brooklyn

On January 22nd, Bridge Street Development Corporation (BSDC) and other partnering members of the Coalition for the Improvement of Bedford-Stuyvesant (CIBS) hosted over 50 clergy members from across Central Brooklyn to preserve individual and community assets through homeownership.

CIBS hosted the Clergy Breakfast at Bedford-Stuyvesant Restoration Corporation to discuss the foreclosure crisis as the first in a series of topics and to start a partnership with the over 500 churches in Central Brooklyn.

“Pastors are eager to get involved,” reported Rhonda A. Lewis, “People in their congregations are in need of foreclosure counseling.” We have the programs and services to help people proactively save their homes. This breakfast is the first step to linking our programs with the people who need them most.”

Members of the Central Brooklyn Clergy

At the breakfast, clergy members from a wide cross section of the ecumenical community signed on to promote “Empowerment Sunday” on a specific date to be determined in Spring 2010 when all participating congregations will focus on individual and community wealth building through assets such as homeownership that can be passed down to future generations. In addition to Empowerment Sunday, CIBS will continue to reach out to church leaders throughout Central Brooklyn to establish relationships and bring more congregations into the partnership.

“Foreclosure affects not only the current homeowner, but it destabilizes the community and leaves nothing for the next generation,” says Reverend Robert Waterman. “We want to spread the word that help is available to homeowners to keep and maintain their homes, to build generational wealth through homeownership as an asset and to contribute to the stability of the neighborhood and the property values here.”

“This breakfast was a first step to forming an ongoing relationship between the members of CIBS including BSDC and the clergy leadership in our community,” Ms. Lewis said. “We’re starting with the immediate issues of foreclosure and wealth building and will go on to address a wide variety of topics that benefit their parishioners.”

Upcoming Event

BSDC will hold a workshop on Saturday, February 6, 2010 Understanding Foreclosure, from 12:00 noon-2:00 p.m. at Macon Library, 231 Lewis Avenue (corner of Macon Street). BSDC provides one-on-one counseling for homeowners whether they are facing foreclosure or just need more information.