New faces join ranks of nation's homeless

[flashl]

Time is running out for Tracy Mosely.

A single mother of five, Mosely is on the brink of homelessness after the house she's rented for a year fell into foreclosure and was sold at auction. Mosely, a part-time restaurant hostess, came up with $500 for a security deposit on another place. But she says all the landlords she's contacted want $1,000 or more.

She doesn't have it.

Lying on her bed in Florissant, Mo., flipping through the newspaper, seeking a place to move her family, Mosely says she's not sure if she has weeks or days before she'll be evicted. She may wind up, she says, in a homeless shelter.

"My blood pressure is sky-high," she says. "We'll be on the streets. I'm just lost about what to do. We were settled here, this was home, and the kids are looking at me like, 'Mom, please.' I told them I'm doing my best."

Mosely is one of the faces of a national real estate crisis whose most grievous victims are increasingly facing the ultimate fate: homelessness. With more families on the cusp of having nowhere to live, thousands of both former homeowners and renters are winding up in shelters or turning to charities for food or other aid to get by.

USA Today

Mosely is one of the countless thousands who are forced out of the 'main street/stream economy' and rendered 'invisible' inside of America's dungeon, the 'second America'.

[izquierdista]

1. The law is on Tracy's side

The new owners are still bound by the lease and have to refund any deposits held in the tenant's name. Although the new owner is perfectly within their right to give notice, there are limits on how they can go about it. A bright attorney (say one working as a community organizer in a low income neighborhood) could keep her from being unceremoniously dumped out on the curb.
It is also in the new owner's best interest to have a stable tenant, unless they intend to occupy the property themselves, which is doubtful here.

[flashl]

2. That's the first time I heard that the tenants had a recourse during subcrime fallout.

There've been many stories about tenants being given days notice before eviction by new owner, most times, banks.

It's been perplexing, why would new owner no longer want a tenant?

[izquierdista]

3. It depends on state laws

But a contract is a contract, and if a tenant has a lease, the new owner is stepping into the lessor part of that contract.

[Gormy Cuss]

8. It does depend on local laws, but foreclosure is treated differently than sale in most states.

Foreclosure isn't a sale, it's claiming property used to secure a loan. The lender does need to follow proper procedures for eviction. Some states and municipalities don't treat foreclosure differently but they're in the minority.

PSA: that's my general understanding of the issue and certainly not legal advice. see this nolo article for more info: http://www.nolo.com/article.cfm/ObjectID/081A483A-913F-4C16-B353038A7F42DA8D/catID/7E846209-6969-42D1-8B1617C517D8E62E/213/317/ART/)

[SlumJack]

11. You might be surprised - even shocked - by how little laws can do.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=389&topic_id=4529674&mesg_id=4529969

WHAT NO ONE WANTS TO KNOW ABOUT HOMELESSNESS:

There's next to NO real help for most people that are homeless... that AREN'T either alcoholics, drug addicts, ex-cons, mental patients, etc., etc. Especially in terms of helping someone OUT of being homeless.

The overwhelming majority of "homeless services" are geared to addressing the above "issues" and/or helping perpetuate homeless, if more comfortably. How do I know this? I was forced into homelessness earlier this year. At first, as I saw the possibility and began to try to "prepare" I was almost comforted by the number of organizations and agencies that appeared or outright claimed to help the homeless. And I began to contact them. More and more of them.

Imagine my surprise when I found that one after another refused me any help to avoid homelessness and then, once I was homeless, STILL could do nothing for me. Some don't even respond to contacts, ignoring calls and emails. Think twice before 'donating' to any outfit claiming to "help the homeless" -- apparently their main "clients" are themselves and the paycheck they collect which keeps THEM housed and comfy, not anyone else.

http://homeword-unbound.blogspot.com/

[bobbolink]

12. Welcome to DU, SlumJack! YOu have it exactly RIGHT....

...yet, "progressives" insist they know the answers... all about alkies, druggies, crazy, etc.

You've said it all... I hope you keep posting about this!

:bounce: :yourock: :toast::bounce: :yourock: :toast::bounce: :yourock: :toast::bounce: :yourock: :toast::bounce: :yourock:

[maryf]

13. Welcome SlumJack

You are so right that homelessness is basically unmentionable, and just about the least popular issue in the main stream media. Good luck, and please keep posting! There are some here who do care, listen, and are willing to talk about this issue without blaming the victim.

[dajoki]

14. Welcome to DU SlumJack...

You are right on and I hope you do your best to keep this issue front and center, it needs more attention. There are a few of us here who agree with you 100%, so please keep posting, thanks. :hi:

[undeterred]

15. The stereotype of the mentally ill homeless

is so strong that many people find it hard to believe that non-mentally ill people are also vulnerable to homelessness.

The "safety net" of the family just isn't there for a lot of people, for a variety of reasons- relationships are broken, family members are experiencing financial difficulty of their own, or some would rather tell a relative to "put it on a credit card" than to lend them money. And the "safety net" of unemployment compensation is just not enough when there aren't enough jobs to go around. If you lose your home and your car, its really difficult to get help. Food pantries don't deliver, and public transportation isn't good enough in a lot of places for someone who wants to work and doesn't have a car.

I really think its up to individuals to help each other out of this mess. I'm not saying government shouldn't do it, but they aren't doing it, and a lot of people are really hurting.

[bobbolink]

16. that stereotype is strong right here in River Ci... errrr, DU!

The ignorance abounds, and yet the "progressive" media REFUSES to correct it!

:grr: :nuke: :grr:

[OneBlueSky]

4. I can't imagine how helpless someone must feel losing their home . . .

especially if there are kids involved . . . that has to be one of the most stressful events that could ever take place in someone's life . . . and it seems that the number of homeless families is on the rise, with no end in sight . . . just one more indication that "the end of the world as we know it" is right around the corner . . . if not here already . . .

[maryf]

5. And indicative of who the homeless really are

Most just folks who've run out of options, my husband just said to me today, we're going to have to open up our house to others soon...(never thought it'd come from him!) A good friend of mine is on the verge of financial collapse, both she and her husband lost their good jobs due to never ending health issues on both their parts; hers cancer (she's in remission, thank goodness), his is his heart. They own half a house, and the mortgage is low, but their income is lower and the payments on Cobra make it worse, but its a necessary evil due to their health problems. They have not well off family members sending a little money at a time (20 here, 10 there), but they are in trouble. Tons of stories like this...those of us who can help in anyway need to step up to the plate now.

[bobbolink]

6. Already lost the home. Now live in car, and it's going out fast.

Stress???

Naw.

Just chest pains and panic attacks.

Nothing major.

:(

[maryf]

7. ...

:hug:

[I Have A Dream]

9. ...

:(

:hug:

[maryf]

10. Kick