This testimonial explains the crucial role of Credit Counseling Center and our housing counselors in supporting homeowners and savings thousands of Bucks County homes from foreclosure since 2009 – and how this important work continues today due to the pandemic. Barbara N. Lyons, Esq., serves the greater community as the Bucks County Pennsylvania, Doylestown Township Chairman of the Board of Supervisors since 2002, now serving her third elected 6-year term, and as a Volunteer Administrator for the Bucks County Court of Common Pleas Mortgage Foreclosure Diversion Program.
“In May 2009, the Courts of Common Pleas for the County of Bucks created the Mortgage Foreclosure Diversion Program (Program) which served to prevent thousands of Bucks County residents facing foreclosures from losing their homes. These residents all suffered some form of personal hardship compounded by the foreclosure crisis and the recession that followed. This Program continues to support our residential homeowners who are now facing the economic effects of the Covid 19 epidemic.
“From its inception in 2009, the Program saved thousands of Bucks County homes from foreclosure. We could not have managed to accomplish this without the support of housing counselors like Paula Powers – Watts of the Credit Counseling Center, who attended with her clients, many of the Program conferences. Ms. Powers – Watts was crucial to the success of the Program and more importantly, was a beacon of hope to her clients. She was always prepared with the credit files for each of her clients, intimate with each line item and document necessary for a successful mortgage modification application, and was tenacious with the following up on each and every matter.
“We anticipate a resurgence in residential mortgage foreclosures due to the pandemic. While outside the purview of our Program, we also anticipate many Bucks County residential tenants will not be able to pay their rent and other necessary life expenses and so the services offered by Ms. Powers- Watts and her organization will be even more critical to help manage the economic health of our many residents and the greater economy.”
-
- Barbara N. Lyons, Esq.
In 2021, Paula was named Executive Director of Credit Counseling Center. She joined the organization in 2008 as a Credit Counselor and was quickly promoted to Director of Housing Counseling in 2009. Paula is a firm believer that each client is a representation of a family whose lives, financial challenges, and needs are important.
She developed and still leads the Center’s Foreclosure Prevention program; and has partnered with the Bucks County Court of Common Pleas Foreclosure Diversion Program. Her keen focus on making a positive impact in the community has generated numerous program collaborations with the United Way of Bucks County and a multitude of social service organizations in the region.
Previously, Paula served 21 on Active Duty in the US Air Force. Initially serving as a combat photographer and finishing the second half of her career as a recruiter, leading to the position of Flight Chief. Highly decorated, she has received awards from the Air Force and the Department of Defense.
An active leader in the Bucks County community, Paula donates her time annually as a board member for the annual Congressional Service Academy Nomination Interviews under the office of Congressman Brian Fitzpatrick. She is an active Chamber member in Lower Bucks, BucksMont, and Upper Bucks, advocates for financial literacy education opportunities at venues servicing low/moderate income consumers and senior citizen organizations.