Rhode Island

Rhode Island law makes mediation upon request a permanent mandate

Published

2 years ago

June 18, 2023

Rhode Island law makes mediation upon request a permanent mandate

Left to right: Leonela Felix, Dawn Euer

Rhode Island enacted a new law this week to make permanent a requirement that servicers provide sufficient mediation and loss mitigation efforts before proceeding to foreclosure.

The Foreclosure Mediation Act mandates lenders to advise delinquent mortgage borrowers of options available to them that could prevent loss of their properties. If a vulnerable homeowner requests mediation, the lender will be obligated to make good-faith efforts on providing a pathway toward making the loan current and may not initiate foreclosure proceedings until a coordinator affirms it has complied.

Mediation coordinators must come from Department of Housing and Urban Development-approved counseling agencies in the state and have “no authority to impose a solution.” They must meet certain other requirements requirements related to having sufficient mortgage industry knowledge, including at least three years of experience with loss mitigation guidelines

The act codifies temporary legislation the Ocean State introduced 10 years ago that was due to expire on July 1. The 2013 Foreclosure Mediation Act was originally slated to end in 2018, but given a five-year extension.

Introduced in February this year and sponsored by Sen. Dawn Euer and Rep. Leonela Felix, the legislation passed in both Rhode Island House and Senate chambers earlier this month. Gov. Daniel McKee signed the act into law on Wednesday.

“I know how devastating foreclosures can be for families and communities firsthand,” said Felix, whose family lost their home when she was a child, in a press release. “If we had had this program back then, we could have gotten on a payment plan we could afford and stayed in our home. This program has given other families security we didn’t have.”

According to RIHousing, more than 1,500 homeowners have taken part in mediation conferences since 2013. Approximately 46% of the efforts completed resulted in the borrower retaining possession of the home through loan modification, reinstatement or a revised repayment plan.

“To a lender, a mortgage might just be a line on a spreadsheet. But to a homeowner, it’s so much more than that,” Euer said. “These additional protections help people get back on their feet, stay in their homes and keep paying their bills.”

Meanwhile, officials in neighboring Massachusetts introduced similar foreclosure-prevention legislation last month.

The new state proposals come as government agencies attempt to come up with successor plans to some of the mortgage relief measures introduced during the COVID-19 pandemic. With foreclosure moratoria and forbearance offered at the federal level either already expired or sunsetting, pressure has come from the likes of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau to ensure mortgage companies remain attentive to requirements to provide other types of new or existing assistance to distressed borrowers.

Earlier this year, the Federal Housing Administration agreed to extend pandemic loss-mitigation options to a broader range of struggling mortgage holders, while the Department of Veterans Affairs will unveil a new program in July that adds a loss-mitigation step before struggling borrowers reach the foreclosure stage.

Another sign of the priority the federal government is assigning to foreclosure prevention came in a new Department of Housing and Urban Development report this week. The agency alleged Mr. Cooper, the country’s largest nonbank servicer, failed to provide adequate home retention options to more than 80% of delinquent borrowers with FHA-insured loans after their COVID forbearance plans ended.

Last month, new foreclosure starts nationwide increased by 4% on a year-over-year basis and 5% from April, according to real estate data and analytics provider Attom. The number of distressed properties turned into completed repossessions took its biggest jump this year to 4,020 homes, 41% higher than in May 2022.

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Related Topics:Featured Foreclosures Rhode Island Servicing

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Rhode Island

Rhode Island man charged for slamming woman to the ground in apparent road rage attack in Attleboro

Published

1 hour ago

January 6, 2025

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Rhode Island man charged for slamming woman to the ground in apparent road rage attack in Attleboro

Local News

Gladior Kwesiah alleged picked up the mother of two and slammed her to the pavement during an argument at an intersection.

File siren.

A Rhode Island man is facing charges after allegedly body slamming an Attleboro mother of two during a suspected road rage incident Friday, according to court records.

Police responded near Newport Avenue at Highland Avenue in Attleboro just before 9 a.m. on Friday, where they found Hailea Soare on the ground, bleeding and crying, according to a police report filed in Attleboro District Court.

Gladior Kwesiah, of Pawtucket, was arrested without incident and charged with assault and battery with a dangerous weapon causing serious bodily injury, vandalism of property, and unlicensed operation of a motor vehicle, according to court dockets.

Multiple witnesses told police that Kwesiah and Soares were arguing outside their cars after her vehicle allegedly rear-ended his vehicle at the intersection, according to the report.

All three witnesses allege that Kwesiah, 26, “body slammed” her onto the pavement, while two told police that he also stepped on her glasses that fell to the ground. One witness said that Soares “smacked” Kwesiah before he picked her up, lifted her over his head, and dropped her on her head, according to police.

The body slam can be seen in videos shared by local news stations. The police report notes that Soares is 5 feet tall and 120 pounds, while Kwesiah is 6 foot 3 inches and more than 300 pounds.

Soares was transported to Study Memorial Hospital, where she was treated for a fractured knee, fractured foot, and head laceration, according to police.

She also suffered damage to her eye socket and “a serious skull injury,” a GoFundMe started by her family said. The fundraiser has collected more than $18,000 from nearly 500 donors out of its $30,000 goal, as of Sunday evening.

“As a single mother of two young children, Hailea now faces an uphill battle – physically, emotionally, and financially,” the GoFundMe said. “These injuries will keep her out of work for months. The financial strain of medical bills, therapy costs, and providing for her children is overwhelming.”

Kwesiah was held in the Bristol County House of Correction after not posting bail on Friday.

Road rage incident is caught on camera in Attleboro Friday that left a woman with serious injuries and a man from Rhode Island under arrest on assault charges #7News pic.twitter.com/8F25o2792N
— Steve Cooper (@scooperon7) January 3, 2025

Molly Farrar is a general assignment reporter for Boston.com, focusing on education, politics, crime, and more.

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Rhode Island

Man who stole unoccupied RI cruiser is stopped on Route 2 in Preston after chase: CSP

Published

9 hours ago

January 5, 2025

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Man who stole unoccupied RI cruiser is stopped on Route 2 in Preston after chase: CSP

A man who stole an unoccupied cruiser in Rhode Island was stopped on Route 2 in Preston after a chase early Saturday morning, according to Connecticut State Police.

Connecticut State Police was notified about a stolen Providence, Rhode Island, police cruiser on Interstate 95 South crossing into Connecticut from Rhode Island around 2:30 a.m.

The stolen cruiser was reportedly seen on I-95 south near exit 89, but then took the exit 88 off ramp to Route 117 in Groton as it saw another Connecticut State Police cruiser approaching.

Multiple Connecticut State Police cruisers turned on their emergency lights and sirens in an attempt to stop the stolen cruiser. According to Connecticut State Police, the stolen cruiser was traveling over 100 mph at times on Route 117.

Ledyard Police Department was then notified and deployed stop sticks near Route 117 and Route 2a. The stolen cruiser slowed to a stop near Route 2a and the driver was taken into custody.

The 27-year-old man from Pawtucket, Rhode Island, is facing charges including reckless driving, engaging police in pursuit, failure to drive in the proper lane, larceny and interfering with officer/resisting. He was not able to post the $50,000 bond and is due in court on Monday.

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Rhode Island

RI Lottery Powerball, Lucky For Life winning numbers for Jan. 4, 2025

Published

16 hours ago

January 5, 2025

Press Room

The Rhode Island Lottery offers multiple draw games for those aiming to win big. Here’s a look at Jan. 4, 2025, results for each game:

Winning Powerball numbers from Jan. 4 drawing

26-32-43-54-56, Powerball: 24, Power Play: 2

Check Powerball payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Lucky For Life numbers from Jan. 4 drawing

03-09-27-29-33, Lucky Ball: 06

Check Lucky For Life payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Numbers numbers from Jan. 4 drawing

Midday: 5-8-4-4

Evening: 1-2-7-5

Check Numbers payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Wild Money numbers from Jan. 4 drawing

13-16-19-23-33, Extra: 30

Check Wild Money payouts and previous drawings here.

Feeling lucky? Explore the latest lottery news & results

Are you a winner? Here’s how to claim your prize

Prizes less than $600 can be claimed at any Rhode Island Lottery Retailer. Prizes of $600 and above must be claimed at Lottery Headquarters, 1425 Pontiac Ave., Cranston, Rhode Island 02920.
Mega Millions and Powerball jackpot winners can decide on cash or annuity payment within 60 days after becoming entitled to the prize. The annuitized prize shall be paid in 30 graduated annual installments.
Winners of the Lucky for Life top prize of $1,000 a day for life and second prize of $25,000 a year for life can decide to collect the prize for a minimum of 20 years or take a lump sum cash payment.

When are the Rhode Island Lottery drawings held?

Powerball: 10:59 p.m. ET on Monday, Wednesday, and Saturday.
Mega Millions: 11:00 p.m. ET on Tuesday and Friday.
Lucky for Life: 10:30 p.m. ET daily.
Numbers (Midday): 1:30 p.m. ET daily.
Numbers (Evening): 7:29 p.m. ET daily.
Wild Money: 7:29 p.m. ET on Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday.

This results page was generated automatically using information from TinBu and a template written and reviewed by a Rhode Island editor. You can send feedback using this form.

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