(Taylor Media Services) The National Black Church Initiative and thirteen historic African American denominations have come together with industry and government officials to create a guide designed to assist families while they are going through foreclosure and to help others avoid it altogether. The effort is in response to the ongoing troubles in the housing market, especially the sub-prime mortgage loan crisis.

The guide was released last week at a news conference held at Asbury United Methodist Church in Washington, DC. "We are enormously proud of the leadership of the Black Church, the Mortgage Bankers Association and Fannie Mae Corporation for helping us create what we believe is a critical tool to help families avoid foreclosure," said The Rev. Anthony Evans, President of the National Black Church Initiative.

This user-friendly booklet is designed to provide congregants and the public with critical and helpful information on how to keep their home. The booklet will consist of a list of government-based agencies and private lenders that can assist at risk borrowers. This step-by-step guide will also help them to identify resources in the housing industry that have been created for the explicit purpose of assisting homeowners who are touched by the current difficulties. The booklet contains websites, phone numbers, lists of individuals and institutions that can help borrowers. Additional information is available by emailing bciinfo@rcrc.org or calling 202-628-7700.