When Jay and I talked about creating “Today’s Home™” a year ago, we agreed that the format should be positive and uplifting, with good information for listeners, “Inspired Ideas For Your Home and Lifestyle”. No political talk, because the subject can be divisive, requires people to take a stand. But in the past two weeks, after I read three related e-mails, and heard news reports about foreclosures, I decided to expand the program’s subjects to include the economy, specifically home foreclosures.
We cannot deny or hide reality of the economy. We can talk about beautiful things for your home, what to do before you build or remodel, but I feel compelled to open a dialogue, create a forum, where we can explore possible solutions to this horrific problem. Individually, there is not much that we can do, but collectively, we can make a positive difference. I’m not advocating the establishment of another political party. Is it possible to create a non-partisan alliance of consumers who want to work together, to explore possible solutions for the housing crisis that’s plaguing us?
How many people do you know who have been affected by the economy? Have you, or anyone you know, lost a job or had a major career change due to the economy? Do you know people who have experienced the threat of foreclosure, or who have gone through the trauma of losing their home? The recession that began over two years ago has touched and affected all of us. Two questions keep coming up: “What can we do?” “What can I do?”
The fact that a trade newsletter, “Housing Zone” featured two articles about foreclosures in the same issue confirms that information about lenders’ greed-driven practices is finally being scrutinized. Both articles are an abbreviation of more in-depth research by the Joint Center for Housing Studies at Harvard University, and an article by David Streitfeld in the New York Times. I’ve attached links to all of the articles at the bottom of this post.
Many organizations, like AARP, have consumer advocacy coalitions. AARP is a politically strong entity, and as Baby Boomers have reached the appropriate age, membership in AARP has grown. What has AARP, or any other organization, done to solve the housing crisis in America? There’s no evidence that any of our elected officials have done anything, although there’s lots of talk about what they’ve done or what they will do, after the election. I’m going to assign a specific part of the “Today’s Home” website to Foreclosures, where we can share our ideas and help to resolve the problem. In 25 years as a bath and kitchen designer, I have learned that for every challenge, there are many possible solutions. The best solutions are discovered when there is open-minded, creative discussion focused on solving the problem without assessing blame.
When was it established as standard practice for lenders to say, “We can’t do anything until you miss a payment”? Why is it their policy to demand that consumers jump through so many hoops, when the information inadvertently gets lost? Why haven’t they reassigned, hired and trained employees to streamline the mortgage modification process? Why don’t they understand that they’ll make the same amount of money whether they foreclose and sell homes at a discount or work with homeowners to create win-win results? Don’t they understand, or care, that their actions will ultimately affect everyone in this country, and the world’s economy?
What are your thoughts and ideas about what we can do? How do we break through the bureaucracy to expose and change the indoctrinated beliefs and behavior?
Links:
AARP:
Housing Zone, Overview Article about Harvard University Report:
Harvard University, Joint Center for Housing Studies Report (218 pages):
http://www.jchs.harvard.edu/publications/finance/UBB10-1.pdf
New York Times Articles:
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/10/01/business/01mortgage.html?_r=3&pagewanted=2&partner=rss&emc=rss
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/10/09/business/09mortgage.html?pagewanted=1&ref=business&src=me
© 2010 Diane Plesset — All Rights Reserved