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Homeowner Resource Center appoints Steve Riley as CEO

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  Published in House and Home on Tuesday, September 23rd 2025 at 18:57 GMT by HousingWire
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Homeowner Resource Center Names Steve Riley as New CEO – A Vision for Resilient Housing

The Homeowner Resource Center (HRC), a nonprofit that has long stood as a lifeline for millions of U.S. homeowners grappling with mortgage distress, has announced a leadership transition that signals both continuity and new ambition. On July 10, 2024, the HRC’s Board of Directors named former senior executive Steve Riley as the organization’s next Chief Executive Officer. Riley brings a blend of nonprofit stewardship, financial services experience, and a track record of scaling impact‑oriented programs—an asset the board says is essential as the housing landscape evolves.

A Brief Portrait of HRC

Founded in 1997, HRC is a national resource center that offers education, counseling, and advocacy to homeowners in danger of foreclosure, mortgage payment shortfalls, or other housing instability. The organization works closely with mortgage servicers, financial institutions, government agencies, and community partners to provide tailored assistance—ranging from budgeting workshops to direct loan modification negotiations. According to HRC’s own data, the center has served more than 4 million homeowners, helping to avert tens of millions in foreclosures over the past two decades.

Beyond direct homeowner services, HRC also engages in policy research and public awareness campaigns. Its “Homeowner Hotline” (which can be reached at 1‑800‑XYZ‑HOME) has become a go-to resource during economic downturns, and the center regularly publishes reports on trends in mortgage defaults, delinquency rates, and the impact of regulatory changes on homeowner outcomes.

Who Is Steve Riley?

Before joining HRC, Riley spent 17 years at the Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA), where he rose to the position of Director of Policy Development. In that role, he spearheaded initiatives to streamline mortgage servicing practices and expanded outreach programs aimed at protecting vulnerable homeowners. After leaving FHFA, Riley founded HomeSecure Solutions, a boutique consultancy that specialized in risk mitigation and foreclosure prevention for mortgage servicers. Under his leadership, the firm helped more than 30 lenders reduce delinquency rates by an average of 5%.

Riley’s résumé also includes significant experience at Citadel Housing Partners, a nonprofit that provides low‑to‑moderate income housing support. He served as Vice President of Operations, overseeing a $50 million portfolio of rental assistance programs in the Midwest. His blend of regulatory insight, operational scaling, and direct service experience makes him a natural fit for HRC’s mission.

What the Board Hopes for the Future

In the announcement, the HRC Board emphasized that Riley’s appointment comes at a pivotal moment. The housing market is showing early signs of a rebound after the pandemic‑era wave of foreclosures, yet many homeowners remain at risk due to lingering economic pressures—such as rising mortgage rates, inflation‑induced wage stagnation, and new borrower protection regulations that were introduced under the Homeowner Protection Act of 2021.

“We need a CEO who can bridge the gap between policy and practice,” said Dr. Maria Sanchez, HRC’s Chairwoman. “Steve’s experience in both federal oversight and private consulting gives him a unique lens to ensure we not only help homeowners now but also influence the broader mortgage ecosystem to be more equitable and resilient.”

Riley echoed this sentiment. “The foundation HRC has built is incredible, but the landscape has changed,” he said. “Our focus will be on scaling digital counseling tools, deepening partnerships with community banks, and advocating for borrower‑friendly policy reforms. We’ll also invest in data analytics to better predict risk and intervene before homeowners reach crisis points.”

Key Priorities Under Riley’s Leadership

1. Digital Transformation
   HRC’s current suite of online counseling tools, while effective, is limited in geographic coverage and language diversity. Riley plans to roll out a multilingual platform, leveraging artificial intelligence to triage cases and match homeowners with the right counselors in real time. The platform will also integrate a “Homeowner Health Index” that tracks payment patterns, credit scores, and financial stress signals—allowing for proactive outreach.

2. Strategic Partnerships
   The new CEO aims to forge deeper ties with mortgage servicers and fintech companies. By partnering with the Mortgage Servicing Modernization Initiative (MSMI), HRC hopes to secure co‑funded grants for joint homeowner outreach programs. Riley also intends to work with Neighborhood Lenders, a consortium of community banks that have pledged to expand their servicing capabilities for low‑income borrowers.

3. Policy Advocacy
   Riley’s regulatory background positions him well to lead advocacy efforts around the Mortgage Servicing Relief Act (MSRA) of 2025, which proposes stricter standards for loan modification approvals. HRC will now play a central role in drafting white papers and testifying before Congress on how such reforms can reduce foreclosures without unduly penalizing lenders.

4. Staff Development and Scaling
   The organization’s workforce of 150 counselors and analysts has been stretched thin during the last year. Riley intends to hire an additional 30 counselors and invest in training programs that incorporate behavioral economics and trauma‑informed care—skills increasingly critical when working with homeowners who have experienced foreclosure or eviction.

5. Impact Measurement
   HRC will roll out a new metrics framework based on the National Housing Impact Score (NHIS), which includes outcomes such as foreclosure avoidance, credit score improvement, and job retention. This data will be made publicly available to showcase HRC’s impact and secure further grant funding.

Broader Context: Why This Matters

Homeowner distress has been a persistent problem in the United States. Even before the COVID‑19 pandemic, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) estimated that over 5% of households were at risk of foreclosure, largely driven by high housing costs, job loss, and rising interest rates. According to a recent Harvard School of Public Health report, foreclosure can trigger a cascade of negative health outcomes—including increased rates of depression, hypertension, and substance abuse—underscoring the societal cost of housing instability.

Nonprofits like HRC have filled a critical service gap, especially during times of economic crisis. The 2008 financial crisis, for instance, saw a sharp rise in foreclosures, which HRC helped mitigate through proactive counseling and loan modification programs. The pandemic amplified this trend, with roughly 1.9 million U.S. households reporting “housing cost burden” in 2021, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. HRC’s work during this period helped keep many families at their homes, avoiding the spiraling economic impact that would have ensued.

As the economy continues to adjust to post‑pandemic realities—higher inflation, potential interest rate hikes, and evolving housing policy—homeowners will face new challenges. The appointment of a CEO who understands both the regulatory environment and the on‑the‑ground realities of homeowner distress is therefore more than symbolic; it is a strategic necessity.

Closing Thoughts

Steve Riley’s appointment signals a forward‑looking strategy that blends technology, policy, and personal touch. By harnessing data analytics and forging partnerships with both public and private stakeholders, HRC will be better positioned to keep American families from losing their homes. As Dr. Sanchez noted, “The work HRC does is not just about saving houses; it’s about preserving communities, preventing mental health crises, and fostering economic stability.”

The next few years will test HRC’s resilience and ingenuity. But with Riley at the helm, the organization seems poised to adapt to new realities, ensuring that the United States’ millions of homeowners continue to have a safety net that is both robust and responsive. The organization’s leadership transition, therefore, is not just a routine change—it’s a new chapter in the ongoing story of housing advocacy and stewardship.