GAO-16-279R: Troubled Asset Relief Program: Status of Housing Programs

Investor Update
January 8, 2016

What GAO Found
 
As of October 31, 2015, three Troubled Asset Relief Program (TARP) housing programs— Making Home Affordable (MHA), Housing Finance Agency Innovation Fund for the Hardest Hit Housing Markets (Hardest Hit Fund or HHF), and Federal Housing Administration’s Short Refinance Program (FHA Short Refinance)—remained active. Combined, the Department of the Treasury (Treasury) had obligated $37.51 billion to these three programs. As of October 31, 2015, Treasury had disbursed $18.34 billion (49 percent). The amount and percentage of disbursements varied across these programs.

  • Treasury had disbursed $12.59 billion (42 percent) of the $29.78 billion in TARP funds allocated to MHA programs as of October 2015. Of the $17.19 billion remaining, Treasury had committed $9.53 billion to the payment of future financial incentives with respect to existing MHA transactions. As of September 2015, approximately 2.5 million homeowner assistance actions had taken place under MHA programs, according to Treasury.
  • Treasury had disbursed $5.73 billion (75 percent) of the $7.6 billion it had allocated to the 18 states and the District of Columbia under HHF as of October 2015. The program had assisted 241,775 households as of September 2015.
  • Treasury had disbursed $0.02 billion (15 percent) of the $0.13 billion it had currently allocated to the FHA Short Refinance program as of October 2015. FHA had insured 4,156 loans that could require Treasury to pay claims to lenders in the event these loans incur losses, as of September 2015.


Why GAO Did This Study

The Emergency Economic Stabilization Act of 2008 provided GAO with broad oversight authorities for actions taken under TARP and included a provision that GAO report at least every 60 days on TARP activities and performance.  As a result, GAO has continued to monitor and provide updates on TARP programs.  This 60-day report provides an update on the status of Treasury’s disbursements and participation for TARP housing programs that were active as of October 31, 2015. This included the

  • MHA, which includes several programs intended to encourage the modification of eligible mortgages and provide other relief to distressed borrowers;
  • HHF, which supports innovative measures developed by state housing finance agencies and approved by Treasury to help borrowers in states hit hardest by the aftermath of the housing crisis; and
  • FHA Short Refinance, which provides underwater borrowers—those with properties that are worth less than the principal remaining on their mortgage—whose loans are current and are not insured by FHA with the opportunity to refinance into an FHA-insured mortgage.


What GAO Recommends

 
GAO is not making any recommendations in this report.
 
For more information, contact Mathew J. Scirè at (202) 512-8678 or sciremj@gao.gov or Daniel Garcia-Diaz at (202) 512-8678 or garciadiazd@gao.gov.

Source: GAO

Additional Resource:

GAO-16-279R Full Report [pdf]

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CEO

Alan Jaffa

Alan Jaffa is the Chief Executive Officer for Safeguard Properties, steering the company as the mortgage field services industry leader. He also serves on the board of advisors for SCG Partners, a middle-market private equity fund focused on diversifying and expanding Safeguard Properties’ business model into complimentary markets.

Alan joined Safeguard in 1995, learning the business from the ground up. He was promoted to Chief Operating Officer in 2002, and was named CEO in May 2010. His hands-on experience has given him unique insights as a leader to innovate, improve and strengthen Safeguard’s processes to assure that the company adheres to the highest standards of quality and customer service.

Under Alan’s leadership, Safeguard has grown significantly with strategies that have included new and expanded services, technology investments that deliver higher quality and greater efficiency to clients, and strategic acquisitions. He takes a team approach to process improvement, involving staff at all levels of the organization to address issues, brainstorm solutions, and identify new and better ways to serve clients.

In 2008, Alan was recognized by Crain’s Cleveland Business in its annual “40-Under-40” profile of young leaders. He also was named a NEO Ernst & Young Entrepreneur Of The Year® Award finalist in 2013.

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Esq., General Counsel and EVP

Linda Erkkila

Linda Erkkila is the General Counsel and Executive Vice President for Safeguard Properties, with oversight of legal, human resources, training, and compliance. Linda’s broad scope of oversight covers regulatory issues that impact Safeguard’s operations, risk mitigation, strategic planning, human resources and training initiatives, compliance, insurance, litigation and claims management, and counsel related to mergers, acquisition and joint ventures.

Linda assures that Safeguard’s strategic initiatives align with its resources, leverage opportunities across the company, and contemplate compliance mandates. She has practiced law for 25 years and her experience, both as outside and in-house counsel, covers a wide range of corporate matters, including regulatory disclosure, corporate governance compliance, risk assessment, compensation and benefits, litigation management, and mergers and acquisitions.

Linda earned her JD at Cleveland-Marshall College of Law. She holds a degree in economics from Miami University and an MBA. Linda was previously named as both a “Woman of Influence” by HousingWire and as a “Leading Lady” by MReport.

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COO

Michael Greenbaum

Michael Greenbaum is the Chief Operating Officer of Safeguard Properties, where he has played a pivotal role since joining the company in July 2010. Initially brought on as Vice President of REO, Mike’s exceptional leadership and strategic vision quickly propelled him to Vice President of Operations in 2013, and ultimately to COO in 2015. Over his 14-year tenure at Safeguard, Mike has been instrumental in driving change and fostering innovation within the Property Preservation sector, consistently delivering excellence and becoming a trusted partner to clients and investors.

A distinguished graduate of the United States Military Academy at West Point, Mike earned a degree in Quantitative Economics. Following his graduation, he served in the U.S. Army’s Ordnance Branch, where he specialized in supply chain management. Before his tenure at Safeguard, Mike honed his expertise by managing global supply chains for 13 years, leveraging his military and civilian experience to lead with precision and efficacy.

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CFO

Joe Iafigliola

Joe Iafigliola is the Chief Financial Officer for Safeguard Properties. Joe is responsible for the Control, Quality Assurance, Business Development, Marketing, Accounting, and Information Security departments. At the core of his responsibilities is the drive to ensure that Safeguard’s focus remains rooted in Customer Service = Resolution. Through his executive leadership role, he actively supports SGPNOW.com, an on-demand service geared towards real estate and property management professionals as well as individual home owners in need of inspection and property preservation services. Joe is also an integral force behind Compliance Connections, a branch of Safeguard Properties that allows code enforcement professionals to report violations at properties that can then be addressed by the Safeguard vendor network. Compliance Connections also researches and shares vacant property ordinance information with Safeguard clients.

Joe has an MBA from The Weatherhead School of Management at Case Western Reserve University, is a Certified Management Accountant (CMA), and holds a bachelor’s degree from The Ohio State University’s Honors Accounting program.

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Business Development

Carrie Tackett

Business Development Safeguard Properties