March 07, 2008|By Matthew Hay Brown | Matthew Hay Brown,Sun reporter
But with a caseload that doubled to 2,200 clients last year and is on a pace to double again this year, deputy director Lisa Evans says the Baltimore nonprofit and similar agencies are looking for more funding and more consistent funding.
"There's not enough either counseling or legal resources for the clients that are seeking help," she said. St. Ambrose is looking to hire two more attorneys to join the two now on staff, but Evans said the limited funding window makes it difficult to recruit, hire and train candidates.
"I don't think the crisis is going to end Dec. 31," she said.
Disaster funds
Clarence J. Snuggs, deputy secretary of the Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development, agrees on the value of counseling. The state is seeking congressional approval to use $800,000 in leftover disaster recovery funds from Tropical Storm Isabel to expand its capacity to counsel borrowers.
But Snuggs says he would welcome anything the federal government can do to stabilize the housing market.
"In a general sense, what we're looking for is some relief," he said.
matthew.brown@baltsun.com
