http://www.cookcountycourt.org/Portals/0/Chancery%20Division/Forclosure%20Mediation/Report%20to%20Commissioners%205-3-2011.pdf

This report reviews the performance of the Cook County, Illinois, Circuit Court Mortgage Foreclosure Mediation Program during its first year. The program was established in 2010 to address the court's growing foreclosure caseload; over 50,500 foreclosures were filed with the court in 2010, up from less than 16,500 in 2004. The program consists of three components: community outreach, housing counseling, and legal aid and mediation. The court partners with the Illinois Housing Development Authority and other local foundations and non-profit organizations to manage each component. The program is unique in that it requires homeowners to meet with housing counselors and legal aid attorneys before participating in mediation. Legal aid attorneys also represent homeowners during mediation. All services are provided at no charge to homeowners. In the first year, 1,820 cases were referred to mediation, and 627 mediations were completed. The report also provides suggestions for improving the program, including holding housing counseling meetings in more locations and making program case managers available at suburban courthouses.