New National Guide for Donors Recognizes CCCS of Greater Atlanta as Foreclosure Prevention Leader

/PRNewswire/ -- In a newly-released national guide that identifies nonprofit organizations making the greatest difference helping people suffering in the current economic crisis, Consumer Credit Counseling Service (CCCS) of Greater Atlanta has been cited as a nationally recognized leader in effective housing counseling.

The Center for High Impact Philanthropy at the University of Pennsylvania recently published the guide, called "High Impact Philanthropy in the Downturn." The guide targets nonprofits that are preventing foreclosures, sustaining primary and preventive health programs and ensuring access to food. It provides descriptions of high-impact models for donors to fund, "cost per impact" estimates for each philanthropic opportunity, tips on finding and assessing local agencies and contact information for leading nonprofits.

CCCS of Greater Atlanta was cited as a "Model in Practice" for effective foreclosure prevention counseling in the investment guide. The guide says the nonprofit agency's low "cost per impact" is a major reason it is a model in foreclosure prevention counseling.

"The purpose of the guide was to identify where philanthropic capital could make a meaningful difference addressing the suffering caused by the current economic downturn," explained Katherina Rosqueta, executive director, Center for High Impact Philanthropy. "For donors focused on maximizing the social impact of their gifts, CCCS of Greater Atlanta's work represents great bang for the philanthropic buck."

In recognizing the Atlanta-based nonprofit, the guide says: "We estimate that it costs CCCS of Atlanta approximately $300 to keep one client in his or her home and avoid foreclosure activity for a year. By comparison, industry wide, the cost ranges from $500 to $3,800, based on the complexity of the issue."

The guide attributes several factors to CCCS of Greater Atlanta's strong "cost-per-impact" profile, such as its 45 years of experience working with people in financial distress; its strong commitment to data-driven decisions and investments in data management systems and its strong, professional culture that is reflected in its working relationships with mortgage servicers.

Suzanne Boas, president of CCCS of Greater Atlanta, said the agency is honored to be recognized by The Center for High Impact Philanthropy and hopes more homeowners will contact the agency to receive help to avoid foreclosure.

"We hope homeowners falling behind on their mortgage payments will not hesitate to call us to receive professional counseling at no cost," said Boas. "We realize that each and every homeowner is going through a difficult economic period and one of our housing counselors can help them understand all of their options, including how to avoid foreclosure."

In 2008, CCCS of Greater Atlanta answered more than 175,000 telephone calls from homeowners seeking to avoid foreclosure and provided foreclosure prevention counseling to more than 73,000 homeowners. This year, the agency anticipates that it will be provide foreclosure prevention counseling to more than 90,000 homeowners across the nation.

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Georgia Association of Homes and Services for the Aging Announces Name Change

/PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Advancing the Future of Aging Services in GA -- Aging Services of Georgia is the new name of the 35-year-old association representing the state's 150-plus nonprofit housing and service providers for the aging. The rationale for the new identity, replacing Georgia Association of Homes and Services for the Aging (gahsa), is to position the public-service organization as the leading advocate of quality senior living and care today and into the future, officials explained. The new name becomes effective immediately.

"Aging research, market analyses and government funding sources suggest baby boomers and future generations will reside in environments much different than those available today," said Walter Coffey, the association's President and CEO. "Our new name Aging Services of Georgia simply and more inclusively reflects these new alternatives for seniors, such as home-based care, adult day services and community services."

To complement its representation for providers of senior living and care, many Aging Services of Georgia's resources now are accessible to older Georgians and the general public through its website, www.agingservicesga.org.

Aging Services of Georgia members provide a wide range of options which include, but are not limited to, senior housing, affordable housing, continuing care retirement communities, assisted living, skilled nursing and home and community-based care and adult day services - that collectively serve more than 127,000 older Georgians across the state. The association's comprehensive activities include advocating public policies, providing excellence in continuing education via the Georgia Institute on Aging, strengthening leadership development in the field of Aging Services, and producing communications and other resources by conducting a statewide consumer education campaign via the Center for Positive Aging.

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