Learn to Obtain Government Funding to Purchase a Home

A workshop on government programs for first-time homebuyers will take place March 6, 10 a.m. to 11:30 a.m., at the Positive Energy Center, 1301 W. Manchester Ave., Los Angeles.

Information: (562) 402-4153, www.citihousing.com.

Black Chamber to Present its 17th Economic Awards Dinner

The Greater Los Angeles African American Chamber of Commerce will present its 17th annual Economic Awards Dinner March 18, with a VIP and general reception at 5:30 p.m. and dinner and program at 7.

The event, which is black tie optional, will take place at the Sheraton Los Angeles Downtown Hotel, the California Ballroom, 711 S. Hope St., Los Angeles.

The event’s keynote speaker will be David Hinson, national director of the Minority Business Development Agency of the U.S. Department of Commerce.

Information: glaaacc.org.

Brown Warns Homeowners to Avoid Forensic Loan Audits

(California Department of Justice) — Attorney General Jerry Brown on Feb. 22 joined the California Department of Real Estate and the State Bar of California in warning Californians to avoid forensic loan audits, in which homeowners pay up-front fees for a forensic review of their lender’s practices, but are provided no actual foreclosure relief, according to the state of California.

Individuals and businesses who offer forensic loan audits use inflated and misleading claims to convince homeowners to pay up-front fees for services that produce no actual foreclosure relief, according to the state.

Homeowners are encouraged to pay for an audit of their mortgage loan file to determine their lender’s compliance with state and federal mortgage-lending laws. This audit is pitched to homeowners as a tool they can use to gain leverage and speed up the loan-modification process.

Brown has sought court orders to shut down more than 30 foreclosure-relief companies.

Information: (800) 952-5225, www.ag.ca.gov/consumers/general. php, www.dre.ca.gov.

Consumer Protection  Week Web Site Launched

(FTC) — The Federal Trade Commission has launched its Web site and blog for National Consumer Protection Week 2010, taking place March 7 to 13.

Consumer.gov/ncpw encourages people to learn about their rights as consumers and promotes free resources to help them protect their privacy, manage money and debt, avoid identity theft, understand credit and mortgages, and steer clear of frauds and scams.

For the first time, the site features a blog. At the blog, www. consumer.gov/ncpw/blog, visitors can learn about consumer resources in an informal and interactive environment and can connect directly with representatives of public and private consumer protection organizations.