Public Inquiry & Assistance Center The AGO's Public Inquiry and Assistance Center (PIAC) works with consumers who have a range of questions and concerns and offers a free service that helps resolve matters between consumers and merchants outside of courts. Contact PIAC at (617) 727-8400. |
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Thank you for taking the time to read the May edition of our Building Better Communities newsletter, dedicated to providing information and resources to improve the health, safety and rights of the residents of the Commonwealth. We encourage you to read this newsletter and share it with your colleagues. We always welcome your feedback; please send your ideas, questions or comments to agonewsletter@state.ma.us. To view archived copies of Building Better Communities, visit the Communications Center of our website.
Cordially,
Martha Coakley
Massachusetts Attorney General |
AGO Abandoned Housing Initiative  Many cities and towns throughout Massachusetts have seen an increased number of abandoned houses, typically left vacant as a result of foreclosure. These abandoned properties can result in a host of problems for the community, including building code violations, and criminal activity such as vandalizing, copper stripping and theft, drug dealing, and even arson.
In March, the AGO was awarded federal Neighborhood Stabilization Program funds by the Massachusetts Department of Housing and Community Development. These funds will support the expansion of the AGO's Abandoned Housing Initiative, which assists local communities in using receivership to make abandoned and foreclosed houses habitable again.
During the months of May and June, the AGO will be joining with the Mass Housing Partnership to host a number of trainings on using receivership throughout the Commonwealth. For more information on these free trainings, visit the Mass Housing Partnership Website.
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Lead Poisoning Prevention Grants
The AGO recently awarded nine grants totaling over $430,000 to a diverse group of nonprofit and municipal agencies dedicated to combating and preventing childhood lead poisoning throughout Massachusetts. The funding for the grant program stems from a multi-state settlement with Mattel, Inc., and its subsidiary, Fisher-Price, Inc., resolving a 15-month investigation into the events that lead to a voluntary recall of the companies' toys for excessive lead paint in 2007. For a full list of grantees, visit the Grant Opportunities section of the AGO website. |
Loan Modification Scams
Despite state laws created to protect consumers from foreclosure assistance scams, scammers continue to prey on distressed homeowners seeking help with their mortgages. In addition to investigating and prosecuting these cases, the AGO has just launched a public awareness campaign which includes a consumer advisory, as well as two public service announcements, which are available to public access stations throughout the state. For more information, view the Foreclosures and Mortgage Lending section of the AGO website. | |
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