US protests against foreclosure evictions

Some US protests against sub-prime evictions in text and pictures

JAN/23/08 - Neighbors & supporters rallied in front of Melonie Griffiths-Evans Dorchester home to physically block an eviction by US Bank & Ocwen Financial. Like thousands in Boston and across the country she is facing foreclosure as a result of sub-prime predatory loans. The eviction was called off because of the protest leaving her and her three children in their house, but some 1500 local families still face a similar situation. The organization City Life/Vida Urbana plans to continue fighting evictions.

More photos here : http://jonathanmcintosh.smugmug.com/gallery/4216329

City Life Vida Urbana Mission Statement

City Life/Vida Urbana is a grassroots community organization with its base in the working class communities of Boston.  We are committed to fighting for racial, social, and economic justice, and for gender equality, by building working class power through direct action, coalition building, education and advocacy. By organizing working class people of diverse races and nationalities – tenants, immigrants, public school parents and other low-income people – we promote individual empowerment, develop community leaders, and build collective power to effect systemic change and transform society.

FORESCLOSURE: AN URGENT CRISIS FOR TENANTS AND COMMUNITIES The majority of people being displaced by foreclosures are low income tenants and it’s becoming a gigantic problem in Boston’s working class neighborhoods where predatory lending is most common. The numbers are staggering, and increasing rapidly. The most affected targeted households consist of women, African American and Latino at every income level. City Life/Vida Urbana is helping tenants and owners in foreclosed buildings, both victims of subprime loans,   save their homes. There are certain financial institutions who make it their business to take possession of foreclosed properties, including international company Deutsche Bank, currently a major holder of mortgage property in the city, which has recently taken possession of 275 Humboldt Avenue in Roxbury, where City Life has begun to organize. As owners recieve foreclosure notices, many more tenants receive eviction notices.  At 275 Humboldt Avenue six households have come together saying that they won’t move. Others are doing the same. Together, owners and tenants are fighting to keep thier homes, and fighting to keep conditions safe and healthy in thier own buildings and communities.

from: http://www.clvu.org/Boston Globe article and video: http://www.boston.com/realestate/news/articles/2008/01/23/dorchester_womans_eviction_postponed_after_protest/Cambridge Eviction Free Zone:http://www.evictionfreezone.org/BBC map of Sub-prime exposure in Cleveland

Map 1 : Sub-prime lending

Map 2: Black areas

Map 3: Deutsche Bank properties 

Affordable housing activists protest subprime lender in Orlando

Community activists with the group ACORN are taking another swing at subprime-lender Ocwan Financial today, staging protests in Orlando and elsewhere and accusing the West Palm Beach-based company of abusing distressed homeowners.

ACORN alleges that Ocwen is refusing to work with distressed homeowners to modify their loans and save their homes. The activist group also says that Owen has fueled "the blight of our communities" by forcing people into foreclosure and then neglecting foreclosed homes.

Protests are scheduled at Ocwen offices in West Palm Beach, Orlando, Dallas, Atlanta and Meridian, Idaho.

Read full article: http://www.orlandosentinel.com/business/orl-biznews-acorn012408,0,1976476.storyComment from OCWEN mortgage holder:http://www.topix.com/forum/business/foreclosures/T78SDCNF9FBHPN2QM#comments

And finally NYC foreclosures protest:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QZgQNDk9hu4