SQUAWKING ABOUT DC'S LACK OF FORECLOSURE AND EVICTION INFORMATION

Mme. Magpie has noticed that something important seems to have been overlooked by the DC Government –information on where to get help if you live in the District and are facing foreclosure or eviction.

Mme. Magpie is shocked, shocked to discover that two of the biggest problems facing DC residents are being ignored by the DC Government. She wonders if the District Government has much of a notion about what’s important these days. Does the District Government understand the words “foreclosure” and “eviction?”

Mme. Magpie spent a lot of time looking to see what kind of advice the city had to offer online to residents facing these critical problems. She has checked the DC Government website, including the main site, the site of the Department of Housing and Community Development and the websites of each of the DC Council Members. She is more than a bit incensed to have to report that she found nothing. NADA. This is inexcusable.

If the city doesn’t think this is important, perhaps it should be answering the telephone at Mme. Magpie’s nest. Yesterday alone, two phone calls came in from or about people needing advice, people who are in grave danger of losing their homes. And that’s just one day and one residential phone at a time when hundreds, probably thousands of District residents are being foreclosed upon or evicted for being behind in the rent after having been laid off. Ironically, probably the largest pool of employee lay-offs are from the District Government itself. (Way to go, DCG – forget the needs of people you have put in that position).

It’s long past the time for the city to provide clear, simple, easy-to understand instructions about what to do if you are a homeowner about to be foreclosed upon, or if you are a DC renter about to lose your apartment because you’ve lost your job.

If the city isn’t up to providing you with that information, Mme. Magpie thought she’d better see what she could find online that offers residents accurate information on what they ought to do in such a situation. Here are a couple of websites that seem to provide just that – useful places to call for help, or useful information about sequencing what you need to be done to stave off being put out, either as a result of foreclosure or eviction.

1. HUD’s List of Local, Approved Housing Counseling Agencies

http://www.hud.gov/offices/hsg/sfh/hcc/hcs.cfm?webListAction=search&searchstate=DC

This seems to be the best list of places to go for help for homeowners and/or renters. Mme. Magpie knows almost all of these agencies, and they have been helpful over the years. The list seems pretty comprehensive, and the kinds of information available at a given agency is clearly laid out.

2. Fannie Mae’s web site

http://www.fanniemae.com/

This site has information to help both homeowners and renters in trouble. It also has useful information on forclosure/eviction avoidance scams.

3. A Foreclosure Survivor timeline – what to do when

http://foreclosuresurvivorkit.com/index.htm

This gives clear, thoughtful advice on what works best when foreclosure looms, occurs or has already taken place. It even takes into account emotional needs.

4. DC Foreclosure law summary

http://www.foreclosurelaw.org/DC_Foreclosure_Law.htm

This seems to be a pretty good review of what the law is in the District. It’s written in legal-type language – never a small word when a larger one can be used – but it does the job.

5. Tenants’ Advocacy Coalition (TENAC)

http://www.tenac.org/

(202) 628-3688 (hotline)

This all-volunteer, activist group works hard to help retain rent control and to support tenant interests and rights, and does an excellent job at it. It is the only citywide tenants’ organization, and has been active in DC for the past 15 years.

Mme. Magpie is thinking especially about the little fledglings who are being pushed out of their cosy nests and who face an uncertain future as a result. They are often the greatest sufferers in such situations. We owe it to help each other in these difficult times, especially as the colder weather is upon us. Any of the groups listed under item one or TENAC listed in item five could make good use of donations.