Late last year the Cook County Board amended its budget to include $3.5 million for a foreclosure mediation program. The groups now want state lawmakers to pass legislation that will provide funds for similar programs and help municipalities struggling to stabilize neighborhoods.
"We need a bill that will give cities the power to hold banks responsible to clean and secure all of these vacant homes once they have filed for foreclosure," said one activist.
The groups say Cook County's current mediation program only has enough funding to help one in every five homeowners who might need assistance.
