DeKalb County plans to lend a hand to homeowners who live in the ZIP codes with the highest number of foreclosures. With the mortgage foreclosure crisis hurting property values and attracting criminal activity and squatters, county officials plan to use a grant from the federal government’s Neighborhood Stabilization Program to stem blight.

Chris Morris, executive director of the, DeKalb Community Development Department, said an $18.5 million grant from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, has been allocated to purchase and rehab abandoned or foreclosed homes, demolish blighted structures and establish funding for the purchase and redevelopment of foreclosed homes and properties. The county had to submit its plans to HUD by Dec. 1. Officials hope to implement the grant by March 1, she said.

“The stabilization program is for those neighborhoods with vacant properties and increased crime resulting from those vacancies,” Morris said. “Our objective is to be able to say we have stabilized those neighborhoods.”

Among DeKalb County’s 20 ZIP codes, the majority of neighborhoods negatively impacted by the foreclosure crisis are located in southwest DeKalb. ZIP codes 30058, 30032, 30034 and 30038 account for more than 23,000 of DeKalb’s total foreclosures with 55,950 since 2001. In 2008 alone, there were more than 5,000 foreclosures in those ZIP Codes.

Georgia is among the top 10 states for foreclosures and mortgage fraud. A high number of foreclosed homes are located in areas going through gentrification and areas that have a large number of senior citizens as homeowners. In all, the Housing and Economic Recovery Act (HERA) will provide $3.92 billion to assist states in redevelopment efforts.

DeKalb determined the areas of greatest need by the number and percentage of foreclosures, subprime loans, defaults and delinquencies.

Morris said DeKalb’s East Lake community already has contacted her office for assistance. She said the homeowners association listed every foreclosed property in its community and steps it proposed to rid the blight.

“Their community has over 1,200 homes, a diverse population, and many families living below the poverty level,” Morris said.

Other homeowners say they’re already taking action themselves to combat the impact of foreclosures. Homes. A resident of the Holly Hills Homeowners Association in Ellenwood told Morris during a community meeting that his neighbors park cars in the driveways of vacant houses. They also use their homeowners’ association fees to maintain power at empty properties, and they mow the lawns of unoccupied homes to discourage negative activity..

DeKalb officials say 738 agency foreclosed properties have been identified and may be eligible for revitalizing, sale, or demolition under the grant program. DeKalb’s NSP application noted that among these properties, there are 322 FHA foreclosed homes in DeKalb. Fannie Mae has 417, Freddie Mac has 71, and the VA has 39.

“The county’s been proactive about financial literacy, housing counseling and getting people to act before it’s too late,” said Morris. When we get to the point of distributing NSP funds, we want to have qualified buyers waiting.”

There will be meetings with civic organizations and affordable housing providers to clarify program guidelines.

Morris can be reached for more information at 404-286-3308 or e-mailed at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it ..