Rep. Tina Orwall receives 2011 Housing Hero Award

In recognition of her legislative work in the midst of Washington state’s foreclosure crisis, state Rep. Tina Orwall, D-Des Moines, received the 2011 Housing Hero Award from a group of housing and homeless organizations.

The 2011 Housing Hero Award was presented to Orwall at the Seattle/King County Coalition on Homelessness’ General Membership meeting on June 16 by representatives from the Washington State Coalition for the Homeless and the Washington Low Income Housing Alliance.

These statewide organizations prioritize strong legislation, robust investments and sound policies that support and house the homeless and that work toward preventing and ending homelessness in the state.

“It was a great honor to receive this award,” Orwall said. “I am very proud of our work to create a fair process to protect homeowners and keep them in their homes whenever possible.  I am grateful to the large group of stakeholders who worked tirelessly to make this happen.”

Orwall’s leadership helped pass the  Foreclosure Fairness Act of 2011, which created the Foreclosure Mediation Program that could benefit the 45,000 families expected to receive foreclosure notices this year.

The new law will bring banks and homeowners to the table to explore alternatives to foreclosure. It will require lenders to notify borrowers prior to foreclosure of the availability of foreclosure counseling and the potential for mediation. Foreclosure counseling will help homeowners understand all of their options and determine the best course of action.

Orwall was also the recipient of the 2010 Washington Low Income Housing Alliance Legislator of the Year Award, and the 2004 Washington State Coalition for the Homeless Advocate Award.