Opinion: Ohio Nonprofit a Model for Mortgage Relief

A Cleveland housing charity’s tough tactics and engagement with lenders have helped it outperform government programs in keeping the tide of foreclosures at bay, according to a New York Times column.

Last year ESOP, or Empowering and Strengthening Ohio’s People, successfully arranged loan modifications for 70 percent of homeowners who completed its process.

David Bornstein, who has written books on social entrepreneurship and Grameen Bank, says the Ohio organization forges communication between borrowers and big lenders, helping the borrowers negotiate the refinancing bureaucracy and the lenders better understand the impact of hard-line loan policies.

Read an article from the latest issue of The Chronicle of Philanthropy on ESOP’s success in inspiring citizen activism on housing and other issues.