Consumer Housing Unit

The Consumer Housing Unit handles legal problems of homeowners in the area of consumer law, including mortgage foreclosure, mortgage servicing, real estate taxes, homeownership and Chapter 13 bankruptcy. Since the start of the foreclosure crisis, the Unit has focused on saving homes from foreclosure by defending mortgage foreclosure cases and filing Chapter 13 bankruptcies on behalf of clients.

Community Legal Services handles landlord-tenant matters and public housing matters; PLA's Consumer Housing Unit does not.

Practice Areas: Housing Homeownership Mortgage Foreclosure Real Estate Taxes Bankruptcy

Intake Procedure:

Applicants need to call the Save Your Home Philly Hotline.

Eligibility Requirements:

Applicant must be LSC eligible and a resident of Philadelphia.

Funded By: Legal Services Corporation

Projects of the Consumer Housing Unit

Save Your Home Philly Hotline

Articles

No One's Home Should Make Them Sick

While Philadelphia has a strong legacy of homeownership across income levels, for many folks keeping up with repairs is a challenge. In families where homes are passed down through generations but inheritance isn’t clearly documented, the inability to afford repairs forces families to live in aging or deteriorating homes that threaten their health.

Joanne, an attorney in PLA's housing unit, wrote about how raising sons with asthma impacted by her work.

PLA Staff Speak at Press Conference

PLA supervising attorney Irwin Trauss and paralegal Ian Skahill spoke at a press conference today about the effect that PHFA's interpretation of HUD guidelines is having on PLA clients.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I get an appointment with a housing counselor?

If you are behind on your mortgage payments or your real estate tax payments, you may be in danger of losing your home to foreclosure.

If you are in foreclosure, or worried about foreclosure, you should meet with a housing counselor to discuss your options.

To schedule a housing counseling appointment, call the Save Your Home Philly Hotline at 215-334-4663.

Professionals

Jasper Katz - Attorney

Jane Nylund - Attorney

Margaret Robinson - Attorney

Margaret Robinson supervises the Save Your Home Philly Hotline.

Irwin Trauss - Attorney

Irwin Trauss is the Supervising Attorney of the Consumer Housing Unit.

Joanne Werdel - Attorney

Self-help Materials

Debt Defense Self-Help

Real Estate Tax Assistance Programs

Application for Owner Occupied Payment Agreement

If you are behind on your real estate taxes, you may be eligible for an Owner Occupied Payment Agreement that will lower your payment for back taxes. This is the application form.

Housing Counseling Agencies

The Save Your Home Philly Hotline refers callers to one of several housing counseling organizations in Philadelphia. This is a list of those organizations, with addresses and phone numbers.

Assistance with applying for public benefits, UC, and EITC

If you need help applying for public benefits, unemployment compensation, or the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC), free help is available from the City of Philadelphia. You can get one-on-one counseling from BenePhilly over the phone or in person.

The toll-free number for BenePhilly is 844-848-4376. You can also walk in to one of six BenePhilly Centers.

Information and assistance available from Community Legal Services

Community Legal Services offers legal information, advice and/or representation in the following areas:

Foreclosure (when the bank or the city sells your home at sheriff sale because you did not make your mortgage or real estate tax payments)

Forfeiture (when the government takes your home because the property was used for drug activity)

Home Repair

Inheritance

Licenses and Inspections

Mortgages

Neighbor Disputes

Property Taxes

Rent-To-Own Agreements (when you agree with a landlord that you will own your property after renting it for a period of time, also known as installment sales agreements)

Reverse Mortgages (mortgages for seniors that allow them to receive payments instead of making payments -- this is for seniors whose home is worth much more than they still owe)

Landlord-Tenant Private Housing

Subsidized Housing (Section 8, Philadelphia Housing Authority)