Training Materials and Webinars

NCLC hosts webinars and in-person conferences and trainings for attorneys at all levels of experience. Below, are a number of training materials and webinars made free to the public on these topics:

• No Surprises Act;
• LIHEAP;
• Online lenders;
• Sustainable home ownership;
• Utility rights;
• Medical debt;
• Loan modifications;
• Tangled titles;
• Zombie second mortgages;
• Property tax foreclosures;
• Natural disasters; and more.

For more information about NCLC webinars, trainings, and. conferences, visit nclc.org.

In addition, NACA members, legal aid attorneys, and recent NCLC conference attendees have access to over 2500 written submissions and videos from recent NCLC conferences. Just set up a free account and then view Conference Archives.

View Conference Archives

Featured Material: Loan Modification Basics

NCLC's Mortgage Conference 2021: Pre-conference Intensive B: Loan Modification Basics and Loss Mitigation for Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac Loans

For advocates newer to handling mortgage and foreclosure cases, gaining a clear understanding of the rules of loss mitigation is a crucial step. This intensive will cover the basics of loss mitigation terminology and the background loan modification rules for FHA and Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac mortgages. Understanding the rules that existed prior to the pandemic will allow advocates to better understand the pandemic-related overlays that have been created. Our main conference sessions will dive into the COVID-era policies, but this intensive will provide the foundational knowledge for advocates who are newer to this area or have not previously run the numbers. Like the other intensive, this will run over two afternoons, with two 90-minute sessions each day. We will utilize live presentations and breakout discussions, and walk through several examples using loan mod calculators. Topics we will include: general loan modification and loss mitigation terminology (applicable to all loans, including the private market); GSE Flex Mod calculations; FHA-HAMP calculations, FHA (non-COVID) waterfall of options, and general FHA defenses.

More information on NCLC conferences

Session 2:

Loan Modification Basics and Loss Mitigation for Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac Loans (PowerPoint)

Pre-Conference Intensive B: Loan Mods 101, pt. 2 (Video)

Pre-Conference Intensive B: Loan Mods 101, pt. 3 (Video)

ALAS FHA Loss Mitigation Calculator

Waterfall Worksheet - Flex Modification

ALAS GSE Flex Mod Calculator

Template for Request for Information on Escrow Accounts

Session 3:

S3: FHA Loss Mitigation (PowerPoint)

FHA’s Loss Mitigation Waterfall—Problem Set & Cheat Sheet

Tangled Title Videos

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Heirs property owners are at heightened risk of losing the family home to property tax foreclosure and a range of other threats. Heirs who inherit property without a will or who have not yet gone through probate may struggle to access available property tax relief. In this interview, Andrea Bopp Stark and Kristopher Smith describe why this problem exists and suggest policy solutions to address it.

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This is a 2021 National Housing Resource Center (NHRC) webinar titled "Protecting Inter-Generational Wealth: Keeping the Family Homestead" concerning issues faced by a home's successors in interest (those who receive an interest in a home after a homeowner's death or divorce) but who are not on the mortgage. This raises issues dealing with mortgage servicers, obtaining loan modifications, and making mortgage payments. The webinar was presented by Sarah Mancini at NCLC and by Lisa Sitkin of the National Housing Law Project.

Zombie Second Mortgages Videos

As the name suggests, zombie mortgages can be terrifying. They rise from the dead, appear without warning, and seize homes. And they are appearing now more than ever.

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A Consumer Action train-the-trainer webinar with Andrea Bopp Stark, senior attorney with the National Consumer Law Center (NCLC); Stacey Tutt, Homeowner Assistance Fund coordinator and senior staff attorney with the National Housing Law Project (NHLP); and Araceli Jimenez, a HUD-certified housing and financial counselor with Administration of Resources and Choices (ARC).

The training covers: Foreclosure basics: Understanding mortgage delinquency and the foreclosure process; Foreclosure prevention options that help homeowners keep their home, as well as options that minimize negative consequences when exiting homeownership; An update on currently available homeowner relief or assistance programs; How HUD-certified housing counselors can help; When consumers should seek help from an attorney and where to find free or low-cost legal assistance.

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Don't let Zombie Second Mortgages haunt your homeownership dreams! Join us in this video to arm yourself with knowledge and practical insights. Hit the like button, subscribe to our channel, and ring the notification bell, so you never miss out on crucial real estate and financial information.

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On Wednesday, April 26, 2023, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) visited Brooklyn, New York, where Director Rohit Chopra hosted a discussion with local community organizations, advocates, leaders, and members of the public about “zombie” second mortgages — debts that consumers thought were satisfied long ago by loan modifications or bankruptcy proceedings or that were written off by lenders as uncollectable — and other debt collection issues.

Property Tax Foreclosures Videos

A May 25, 2023, Supreme Court decision highlights the unique issues surrounding property tax foreclosures. NCLC is providing a key resource page on property tax issues, including homeowner tactics to avoid or respond to a tax foreclosure—which involve different approaches and procedures than for a mortgage foreclosure.

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This training will focus on one of the most important ways to prevent tax foreclosure: ensuring that low-income and older homeowners have access to all available exemptions and discounts. Many older adults who are at risk of tax foreclosure have not taken advantage of all the existing tax relief options available to them. Heirs who have inherited a family home are even less likely to have obtained these benefits. This webinar will provide an overview of the available options, including abatements and exemptions, and strategies to ensure your client is maximizing all available benefits to avoid the risk of losing their home.

After the Supreme Court's recent decision in Tyler v. Hennepin County, some states will need to revise their property tax foreclosure process. In this webinar, presenters will also briefly describe the impact of this decision and what may come next.

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Many states will be re-writing their property tax foreclosure laws in the wake of the Supreme Court’s decision in Tyler v. Hennepin County. This opens up a window of opportunity to broadly improve property tax systems. One of the most important ways to prevent tax foreclosure is to ensure that low-income and older homeowners have access to all available exemptions and discounts. Yet many older adults who are at risk of tax foreclosure have not taken advantage of all the existing tax relief options available to them. Heirs who have inherited a family home are even less likely to get access to these benefits.

This session will dive into the most impactful policy solutions to reduce the tax burdens on older adults, low-income people, and people of color, leaving you with actionable steps to work for change in your community.

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Heirs property owners are at heightened risk of losing the family home to property tax foreclosure and a range of other threats. Heirs who inherit property without a will or who have not yet gone through probate may struggle to access available property tax relief. In this interview, Andrea Bopp Stark and Kristopher Smith describe why this problem exists and suggest policy solutions to address it.

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Property tax liens and foreclosure pose a significant threat to older homeowners’ ownership and equity, with a disproportionate impact on marginalized communities. On May 25th, the Supreme Court held in Tyler v. Hennepin that when a local government takes a home at a property tax foreclosure and keeps the homeowner’s equity after the tax debt is paid, it violates the Takings Clause of the Fifth Amendment to the United States Constitution.

Watch our short video with National Consumer Law Center attorneys Andrea Bopp Stark and John Rao as they explain the case and its impact on older adults and property tax foreclosures. They also discuss how advocates can assist older adults, including exercising redemption options and connecting older adults with legal assistance to help them preserve their home equity.

Natural Disasters Videos

Hurricanes, wildfires and other natural disasters strike unexpectedly and put entire communities at risk. When natural disaster occurs, advocates need resources to defend consumers in affected areas.

See free publications from NCLC targeted toward advocates assisting victims of natural disaster. For more on disaster relief from NCLC, visit nclc.org.

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A Consumer Action train-the-trainer webinar with Andrea Bopp Stark, senior attorney with the National Consumer Law Center (NCLC); Stacey Tutt, Homeowner Assistance Fund coordinator and senior staff attorney with the National Housing Law Project (NHLP); and Araceli Jimenez, a HUD-certified housing and financial counselor with Administration of Resources and Choices (ARC).

The training covers: Foreclosure basics: Understanding mortgage delinquency and the foreclosure process; Foreclosure prevention options that help homeowners keep their home, as well as options that minimize negative consequences when exiting homeownership; An update on currently available homeowner relief or assistance programs; How HUD-certified housing counselors can help; When consumers should seek help from an attorney and where to find free or low-cost legal assistance.

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Steve Sharpe and Lisa Sitkin (NHLP) spoke on assisting homeowners after a disaster.

NCLC Webinars

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MA Intro to HEAP ’24-’25
November 14, 2024

The presentation covers the basics of the Home Energy Assistance Program (HEAP) [formerly referred to in MA as LIHEAP] and walks through important updates and changes to expect in HEAP and weatherization for the 2024-2025 program year. In addition, the speakers go through some best practices for the application process as well as common errors and how to avoid them. This recording also contains answers to many audience questions.

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Policy Reform Post-Tyler v. Hennepin County: Preserving Homeownership, Preventing Vacancy, and Reducing Legal Risk
December 5, 2023

Following the Supreme Court’s Tyler v. Hennepin County decision, state and local governments are working to understand its potential impact on their property tax enforcement systems. Though questions remain, the decision creates an opportunity to reform and improve property tax enforcement systems across the country.

In this webinar, experts from the Center for Community Progress and the National Consumer Law Center will discuss potential policy reforms that can help to address Tyler issues and create more equitable outcomes for individuals, neighborhoods, and cities. These include reforms aimed at both helping keep people in their homes and ensuring local governments have the tools they need to address vacant and abandoned properties.

No Surprises Act: What You Should Know About Surprise Billing Protections
November 9, 2023

Medical bills often arrive unexpectedly and send many families into a financial tailspin. Unanticipated out-of-network medical bills, which frequently happen during emergencies, can reach hundreds or thousands of dollars. The No Surprises Act (NSA), which passed in 2020 and went into effect in 2022, broadly prohibits out-of-network bills for emergency and certain non-emergency situations.

This webinar, hosted by the National Association of Consumer Advocates (NACA) will provide a general overview of patients’ rights against surprise medical bills under the NSA, focusing on privately insured and uninsured patients. Public insurance programs like Medicaid and Medicare have their own surprise billing protections, but the NSA and a handful of state surprise billing laws offer protection to privately-insured and uninsured patients. While these surprise billing laws have their limitations, consumer attorneys should be aware of the complaint processes available if they believe a client has been billed in violation of surprise billing protections.

Protecting Consumers by Stopping Online Lenders from Evading State Laws
October 19, 2023

Join CoPIRG and state and national partners, on Thursday, October 19 at 9am MST for a webinar exploring Colorado’s recent legislative victory against high-cost lenders who use Rent-A-Bank arrangements to skirt Colorado interest rates.

Keynote remarks will be delivered by Colorado Attorney General Phil Weiser.

Rent-A-Bank schemes were made possible by the federal Depository Institutions Deregulation and Monetary Control Act of 1980 (DIDMCA or DIDA), which in recent years has been exploited by high-cost on-line lenders that use arrangements with banks chartered in other states and charge Colorado borrowers interest rates far in excess of what is legal under Colorado law.

In 2023, Colorado made it clear – lenders must comply with Colorado law, regardless of where they are located, when making on-line loans to Coloradans. The passage of Colorado’s House Bill 23-1229 exercised Colorado’s right under DIDMCA to stop lenders from evading Colorado law, joining Iowa and Puerto Rico in closing the rent-a-bank loophole.

Big But Brief: Challenges to Sustainable Homeownership Among Black Adults
October 11, 2023

This video, part of Columbia Aging Center’s Age Boom Academy 2023, looks at challenges to sustaining homeownership, issues concerning heirs’ property, property tax foreclosures, and predatory investors and speculation in Black communities. The video features NCLC senior attorney, and director of our Racial Justice and Equal Economic Opportunity project, Odette Williamson.

MA Utility Consumer Rights Course
October 5, 2023

Join us for our full Utility Consumer Rights Course, geared towards advocates and front-line social service workers who assist low-income Massachusetts consumers. In this course, we cover: the eligibility requirements for utility discounts; how to prevent service from being shut off; how to restore service if it has been terminated; and how to manage past due balances. Registration required.

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Keys to Opportunity in the Housing Market: How Financial Models Advance and Constrain Low-Income Communities
October 2, 2023

Since the Great Recession, financial markets have increasingly influenced housing markets and have had a particular impact on low- and moderate-income communities. Whether selling homes through contracts for deed or acquiring single-family homes to rent out, corporate and institutional investors are both expanding and constraining opportunity.

Join FedCommunities October 2 for a research-driven discussion that will explore how both contracts for deed and investor-owned single-family rentals are affecting lower-income communities.

Health Policy Insights: A Healthier Maryland by Ending Medical Debt
July 17, 2023

No one chooses to have medical debt. Too often, the resulting debt from necessary, life-saving medical care leads to longstanding financial harms for low-income families, especially families of color. While Maryland hospitals have agreements to provide low-cost and free care to eligible households, there is also a long history of them suing patients for even very modest amounts of money. Marylanders should know their rights as patients and be able to get adequate care whenever they need it.

Our broken health care system affects not just Marylanders, but Americans across the country too. Statistically, medical debt is more likely to impact Black and Hispanic adults, those without insurance, low-income families, and adults aged 30-49 (and so many more). Fear of debt can also lead people to delay or avoid medical care. No one should ever have to choose between spending money on basics like food and rent or using almost all of their savings because they needed to get medical care.

MA Utility Consumer Rights Course
June 8, 2023 1 – 2:30 PM EST

Join us for our full Utility Consumer Rights Course, geared towards advocates and front-line social service workers who assist low-income Massachusetts consumers. In this course, we cover: the eligibility requirements for utility discounts; how to prevent service from being shut off; how to restore service if it has been terminated; and how to manage past due balances. Registration required.

Assisting Older Borrowers in Navigating the Changing Federal Student Loan System
March 28, 2023

The last three years have marked unprecedented change in the federal student loan system. This training will provide a summary of these changes—including President Biden’s current cancellation announcement, the COVID-19 payment pause, the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Waiver, the Income Driven Repayment Account Adjustment, and the “Fresh Start” for borrowers with defaulted loans. Presenters will also explain how advocates can help older borrowers benefit from these changes and how to prepare for when repayment restarts later this year.

Participants in the training will:

Understand the current time-limited federal student loan flexibilities in place that can help older Americans obtain federal student loan relief, including potential balance cancellation and removal of loans from default.
Learn what older borrowers should do to prepare for when the COVID-19 payment pause ends.

Massachusetts Utility Consumer Rights Course

February 22, 1:00 – 2:30 PM

Join us for our full Utility Consumer Rights Couse, geared towards advocates and front-line social service workers who assist low-income, Massachusetts consumers. In this course, we cover the eligibility requirements for utility discounts, how to prevent service from being shut off, how to restore service if it has been terminated, and how to manage past due balances. Registration required.

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Medical Debt Crisis: Impact on Native and Indigenous Families

Thursday, February 9, 2023, 2:00 – 3:30 ET

The COVID-19 pandemic helped to reveal the large health inequalities in the United States, specifically in communities of color. According to data from Johns Hopkins, Native and Indigenous communities were disproportionately impacted by the pandemic due to underfunded and under-resourced health systems, limited access to health services, poor infrastructure, and underlying health disparities that place them at higher risk. While these stark racial inequities and gaps in health outcomes were brought to light during a global health crisis , the root causes have been at work for years.

This webinar will look at medical debt in Native and Indigenous communities, the social and political influences causing an increased risk of medical debt, and what groups on the ground are doing to address this issue.

Medical debt remains a daunting crisis and race contributes to whether households have medical debt, with Native and Indigenous communities being no exception. Despite misconceptions, healthcare needs in Native and Indigenous communities are not covered in full by the federal government. In fact, between 2016 and 2019, the Indian Health Service IHS has declined to pay medical bills for more than 500,000 patients, resulting in more than $2 billion in medical debt. Recent research shows that Native and Indigenous families are more likely to have medical debt and skip filling prescriptions due to costs than non-Hispanic Whites. These communities face unique challenges, tied to persistent systemic racism and historical trauma, that limit their access to affordable healthcare.

Hospital Price Transparency: Understanding and Using the Data
January 25, 2023

Since January 1, 2021, most hospitals across the United States have been required to post previously confidential data on the true prices that they charge to insurers and payers. This pricing data is particularly important for self-pay patients because they do not benefit from insurer negotiated prices and, as a result, are more financially vulnerable than patients relying on insurance.

While hospital pricing data can be a powerful resource for patients, regulators, and researchers, implementation has been slow and the data have proven challenging to work with. For attorneys, it can be helpful to know how to use hospital pricing data to advocate for your clients dealing with medical debt. This webinar will provide a practical, how-to session on accessing and using the hospital price transparency data for those working with clients and/or interested in pushing policy solutions around medical debt.

Please find the materials associated with this webinar on the National Consumer Law Center's website here: https://www.nclc.org/event/hospital-pricing-transparency-understanding-and-using-the-data/

Water Affordability Advocacy: Deep Dive on Data Collection and Transparency

Thursday, January 19, 2023, 2:30 pm ET

This webinar builds on our November discussion, “Introduction to NRDC and NCLC’s Water Affordability Advocacy Toolkit”. The session presents a deeper dive on one of the toolkit’s modules: Data Collection and Transparency. Panelists will explore how to improve access to critical utility data on water affordability, including data on shutoffs, liens, arrears, and more, and how these data can be put to use in advocacy. Speakers include advocates who helped secure new data reporting requirements in Illinois, California, and New Jersey and supported efforts to develop model state legislation.

A one-page introduction and the full version of the toolkit are available here.

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New Process to Discharge Student Loans in Bankruptcy

Presented by National Consumer Law Center and One-Justice

Thursday, January 19th, 2023, 2:00 – 3 :30 PM ET

A new Guidance from the Department of Justice and the Department of Education has the potential to change bankruptcy practice dramatically. Until now, attorneys have not thought of bankruptcy as a way to help clients struggling with overwhelming student loan debt. This is changed by the new Guidance as more bankruptcy debtors will be eligible for discharge of their student loans through settlement of undue hardship cases.

This webinar will help legal aid attorneys evaluate their clients’ chances of obtaining an undue hardship discharge and discuss how the new process will work. It is intended for staff at legal services and pro bono programs who are considering including or expanding bankruptcy practice to assist clients with student loan debt problems.