Housing advocates throughout the state are calling for the commonwealth to restore funding to a program that helps people facing foreclosure.

State funding was all but eliminated for the Homeowners Emergency Mortgage Assistance Program (HEMAP) and it shut down in July.

Now, advocates are asking for a resurrection – and for $15 million from the state.

Democratic Senator Vincent Hughes, of Philadelphia, says the program could have been salvaged months ago if Governor Corbett had pushed to use the year-end surplus, which was more than $700 million.

“He said to hell with y’all,” said Hughes during a rally Tuesday afternoon at the Capitol.  “He said to hell with the average homeowner in Pennsylvania.  He said you don’t matter.”

Hughes condemned the Senate and the House majorities, as well, for allowing the program’s funding to be slashed.

Corbett has stood by his decision not to spend that money, saying in weeks past that the remaining surplus could go to pay for recovery efforts from recent flooding. 

A statewide coalition of housing advocates and organizations representing religious and labor leaders joined Hughes during the rally in the Capitol Tuesday. 

Alan Jennings, with the Community Action Center of Lehigh Valley housing advocacy group, said helping people stay in their homes would contribute to widespread economic stability.

“If you don’t have equity in your house, you can’t borrow against that equity to start a business,” said Jennings.  “This economy is going nowhere until we get a handle on the foreclosure crisis.”