Thursday, May 16, 2013

A modest letter



Thursday, May 16, 2013
SUBJECT: Home Foreclosures, Irregularities and Education

Congressman
                First, thank you for your past efforts.  All your hard work is appreciated greatly.
                My purpose in contacting you is because of the issues regarding the foreclosure process.  We, my partner and I, have been working with the Banks directly.
                Later in this document,  I want to outline briefly a growing problem regarding the Community College system and the new shortage of qualified educators and full classes being closed.
Returning to the topic of banks and foreclosures, they, the banks, have been nearly impossible to work with on any level. The Bank representatives have been rude and reluctant to allow me to speak directly with Supervisors.
 When I requested to speak to a Supervisor I was told, “What difference would that make.”
                We have filled out the same forms over and over again.  The process keeps going on without progress. Just forms and more forms to complete has been a huge time consuming process.  
Working on our behalf, Dollie A. Medina, a Foreclosure Intervention Counselor with L.C.S.A. was blocked from accessing our account.  After having filled out a disclosure form so that she can access information to assist us, she was deliberately blocked. This was after she already completed the appropriate forms and had access.
It is as if as if the banks want to rush the process rather than assist homeowners who want to keep their homes.
If there are government programs to help, it appears that their requirements are so stringent and inflexible that they do not accomplish what they were intended to do.
                We have been in our home for over ten years.  My partner and I have been concerned citizens. We have made our community better by being active. We may have actually saved it from total disrepair.
                Our first management company literally “nickled and dimed” our H.O.A.  Services performed were poorly done, and money set aside by our developer “magically disappeared.”
                I have successfully received  grants to improve our community at least three times. At one point we had the chief of police, the Mayor and our City Councilmen attended our G.A.I.N. event.  I was actually awarded a bench from the City of Phoenix for civic contributions.
                We have saved money to make mortgage payments. We have literally pleaded with the banks to allow us to get caught up to some degree.
                All we wanted was time.
                The banks would not accept our money.
                My partner and I have begun working, but it will take a while for pay stubs to arrive. The bank keeps refusing what we send. 
                One of the unfortunate side effects of so many foreclosures are the many investors.  They claim houses banks put on the market with the intention of renting them.  Frequently, they do a poor job of doing background checks on their residents. 
It is common practice that renters may not follow community guidelines.   Banks and investors frequently have ignored H.O.A. dues.  It takes efforts to collect funds.  With the loss of so many home owners, our H.O.A. funds become depleted.
                When dues are not paid because houses are in transition, it raises H.O.A. fees for those that do make regular payments. The stress on communities are huge.
Education
                Another issue that has impacted me and many others in the community college system is the fact that they are limiting the number of hours adjuncts can teach.  The net result is that full classes are cancelled. 
Finding adjuncts qualified to teach classes is not easy.  The hours are long for preparation, and the pay is relatively low.  But, if one can teach a full load, the compensation makes teaching practical.
                For reasons better known to the Community College system, they are enforcing the limit without exception.
                It is obvious that this will seriously harm the Community College system.  Those seeking employment will leave the system.  This will cause a spiral effect.  If this persists, classes will be smaller, full classes will be cancelled. Students will seek other educational options.
Closing
                Communities, education and stability are issues close to me and many others in South Mountain.  We all want sustainable vital safe neighborhoods where  people want to reside.
                When jobs are vanishing, pay lower and the cost of living and housing rise, Banks and their byzantine labyrinth of forms and requirements make matters worse.
                I am not sure if the effort to write this letter is going to make any difference.  I do hope that if nothing else this letter will create awareness and help myself and the many others facing foreclosure.
                Thank you for reading this document.

                Sincerely,

Kurt Joachim von Behrmann
Artist and Concerned Citizen

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