Phyllis Caldwell got an earful at a congressional hearing to address the foreclosure crisis in Cleveland. She runs H.A.M.P. - the Homeowners Affordable Modification Program.
In a meeting Monday in Cleveland several people told Caldwell the program has failed Ohio and doesn't work.
It was put in place to get lenders to work with homeowners to modify their loans.
Critics say it's a voluntary program, so not enough lenders want to do it.
Congressman Jim Jordan (R-OH 4th District) calls it a miserable failure.
"There's been $27 billion of taxpayer dollars allocated already and only 1,711 families have had their load modified--that's really dismal even for government standards. That's really bad," said Jordan.
Caldwell defended her agency saying they've been focused on getting people signed up to the program.
"It's important to remember that while the foreclosure and unemployment crisis has been two years old, H.A.M.P. is only nine months old. The first part was focusing on getting people into trials and we've achieved our goal," she said.
Congressman Dennis Kucinich (D-OH 10th District) urges Caldwell to look to northeast Ohio as a gauge for the agency's success in the future.
"Cleveland is the epicenter. How you do in Cleveland is how you can tell if your program is going to work," said Kucincich.
