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
