Agency receives grant to fight foreclosures

Date: 11/11/2008

By G. Michael Dobbs

Managing Editor



SPRINGFIELD For George Merrill of Springfield the foreclosure crisis is more than just news stories and statistics. Merrill found himself forced out of his home through what he described as an "illegal eviction." With the help of the Mason Square Veterans organization and Springfield Partners for Community Action (SPCA), he was able to move into an apartment in less than 24 hours.

He is now taking SPCA's first-time homeowner course.

The foreclosure and home buying services offered by SPCA were recently awarded $47,000 in additional federal funding. The announcement was made at a recent press event at the offices of the anti-poverty agency on State Street.

The grant is part of a national $50 million fund to help underwrite home ownership. Massachusetts received $4.2 million.

Taylor Caswell, the regional director of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), said SPCA is among the first agencies to have a program specifically geared toward people facing eviction.

SPCA Housing Counselor Brandi Gamble-Eddington said the eviction clinic is among the programs offered to assist people in the current housing problem. The agency also offers a first-time homebuyers program to better prepare people planning to buy a home. Over the past year 275 people have completed the home ownership course.

SCPA Executive Director Paul Bailey asserted, "As bad as it is in Massachusetts [home foreclosures] it's twice as bad in Springfield."

According to Realtytrac.com the rate for foreclosures filings for August was 159 in Hampden County and was at a rate of 1 in 1,184 homes. In Worcester Country the number of foreclosures was 402 or a rate of 1 in 781 homes. For Essex County, there were 376 foreclosures for a rate of one in 787 homes.

Foreclosuresmass.com reported there have been 122 foreclosures in Springfield in the last 60 days. Worcester has had 136 foreclosures in the same time. Boston had had 298.

Caswell said American are living in "historic times," and that HUD's current efforts are to "get people in bad situations into government backed mortgages" and to stabilize neighborhoods by "taking foreclosed properties, rehabbing them and getting them back onto the market."

He said that anyone who is attempting to blame part of the housing crisis on the affordable housing sector is incorrect.

"I would strongly argue that is not the case," he said.

He believes an examination of foreclosure records would show "a small foreclosure rate" on homes purchased by people who went through the HUD first time homebuyers program.

Caswell also noted that home sales in some parts of the country are rebounding due to decreasing housing prices.

"There is a little tiny glimmer of hope to see some movement in a positive direction," he said.

Bailey said that people who believe they are in danger of losing their homes should contact the agency sooner than later. To reach Gamble-Eddington, call 263-6500, ext. 6538.