Get News & Views Updates
Most Popular This Week
Popular content
Today's Top News
'Occupy Our Homes' Protesters Highlight Foreclosures Nationwide
Bobby Hull is scheduled to be evicted from his Minneapolis house in February, but he won't leave without a fuss. He's invited 100 people from the local version of the Occupy Wall Street movement on Tuesday to protest his foreclosure.
Hull said he doesn't know if the attention will help him win back his home, which Bank of America sold at a sheriff's sale in August, but he considers the effort worthwhile no matter what.
"If I lose it, I lose it. But I might be able to open the door for somebody else," Hull told HuffPost. "It might inspire somebody else to stand up and say, 'Yeah, you're right, what the banks are doing is wrong.'"
That's the idea behind the action at Hull's house: to draw attention to an unending foreclosure crisis. The rally is one of several events scheduled across the country as the Occupy Wall Street movement, defined in part by its broad critique of economic inequality, focuses in on the narrower issue of housing. Events like the rally at Hull's house will occur in more than a dozen cities, according to organizers, who have received help from more traditional community organizing and labor groups.
The "Occupy Our Homes" protests come as banks face a reckoning for foreclosure malfeasance nationwide. A coalition of state law enforcement officials and the Obama administration have sought a settlement with the biggest lenders over rogue foreclosures and poor treatment of homeowners. But the talks, led by Iowa Attorney General Tom Miller, have dragged on for longer than a year, and several state attorneys general have defected because they say the $25 billion settlement Miller's seeking is too small and would let banks off the hook for too much bad business.
In Hull's case, he and the activists who've taken up his cause are not saying Bank of America foreclosed illegally, but that the bank should show more compassion to a Vietnam vet who wants to stay in his home and is willing to pay if he could get a break.
Hull, a 57-year-old plasterer, said he applied for a mortgage modification under the Obama administration's much-maligned Home Affordable Modification Program in 2009 because he'd been temporarily unable to work due to a series of shoulder surgeries and other health problems. In a video produced by Occupy Minneapolis protesters Peter Leeman and Kyle Kehrwald, Hull offered a typical description of a frustrating modification experience.
"It got real confusing," he said in the video. "They would send me out an application and I would fill it out and send it back. They'd send me three to four more applications within the next two days and I'd fill them out and send it back. I'd call 'em up and they'd say they didn't have my information and I'd give it to them over the phone."
Bank of America spokeswoman Jumana Bauwens said the bank did what it could for Hull.
"We have worked with Mr. Hull for the past two years to help identify a home retention solution," Bauwens said. "During that time, we offered him a modification and later, we reviewed him for HAMP but unfortunately he did not meet the guidelines for the program."
Hull said he owed more than $230,000 on the home and hadn't made a payment since last year. Hennepin County records show Bank of America sold the property in August to U.S. Bank for $83,700.
"This is the typical situation," said Steve Fletcher, director of Minnesota Neighborhoods Organizing for Change, a local community organizing group. "The banks are being incredibly bad about negotiating with homeowners [for loan modifications] and then they turn around and sell the house at a huge loss at a sheriff's sale."
Banks have been reluctant to modify or refinance mortgages for the nearly 11 million borrowers who owe more than their homes are worth. Housing experts say the huge amount of negative equity is a key obstacle to healing the housing market.
Protester Nick Espinosa said Occupiers reached out to Fletcher's group for help finding foreclosed homeowners. The community group looked up foreclosure addresses on the county website and knocked on Hull's door last week. Espinosa and Occupy protesters in a handful of other cities have been highlighting housing for several weeks.
"Immediately when they met Bobby we heard a story that was just so moving, so powerful," Espinosa said. "After all he's been through, he shouldn't have to fight the banks to keep his home."
Hull, for his part, said he'd been depressed about losing his home but that the activists reinvigorated him. He said he'd serve hot chocolate and gumbo to the people who show up on Tuesday, and he's invited members of the Occupy group to use his home for weekly meetings until February, when the eviction is scheduled.
"The banks got all this money from us and they didn't modify anybody's loan? What are they doing with all this money all this time?" Hull asked. The protesters, he added, "kinda woke me up. I'm thinking about myself, but I'm not the only one in this boat. If we're all in this together we need to start bailing water together."
- Posted in
Comments
Note: Disqus 2012 is best viewed on an up to date browser. Click here for information. Instructions for how to sign up to comment can be viewed here. Our Comment Policy can be viewed here. Please follow the guidelines. Note to Readers: Spam Filter May Capture Legitimate Comments...

33 Comments so far
Show AllOccupy. Occupy our homes, don't move out; occupy our job sites. Close the capitalist machine down before it strangles us and eats our children. Give nothing more to the capitalist class. We have been robbed for long enough! We owe nothing.
OCCUPY THE RICH.
They don't own the street itself. We can march down their streets and tell them where to go.
Find the addresses of Raytheon and Lockheed Martin employees and ceos, etc, and occupy their neighborhoods. Occupy Bush's street, Cheney's street, Rumsfeld's Mount Misery.
OCCUPY EVERY DAMNED THING. Or else it'll be all of us damned by the rich to an eternity of serfdom.
"We can march down their streets and tell them where to go."
Guess what, SS. T-h-e-y d-o-n-'t c-a-r-e.
If we took it to -their- homes, and their neighborhoods, oh, I think they would care — and it probably wouldnt be pretty.
I don't recall too many revolutions being described as pretty though.
And what else is this but revolution stirring?
If that's not what this is, then what's the point of anything anymore?
"And what else is this but revolution stirring? "
It is, yes, but it stirred 43 years ago too, and failed. The main difference this time is that many more "ordinary people" are hurting, and should be more sympathetic to effective strategies. But the Devil is in the details of that word "effective" ...
"And what else is this but revolution stirring? "
That's a laugh. The big general strike and day of rage in Oakland draws less than 2% of the population. Less than 1/8th the average crowd of a Raider's football game. Revolutions are not based on numbers like that.
What aspect of 'stirring' are you not familiar with?
A giant slumbers, and fitfully stirs in her sleep.
Did I ever say she has fully awakened?
Yes indeed, as more Americans take up residence on the sidewalk in front of the homes they lived and paid for most of their lives. Occupy will be like a big cup of coffee for the sleepy-heads.
Sadly not only do we owe nothing, none of us care... The Occupy Our Homes rally and march here in Oakland had 20 participants with more than 20 reporters attending to film and report.
It is about numbers. If you can't get the numbers in the street, the demonstration is worse than useless because it shows the weakness of your cause. No politician is going to do squat for you if you can only mobilize 20 people.
"the bank should show more compassion"
sole goal-"continuously maximising profits" ad nauseum. boa spokeswoman jumana bauwens said "the bank did what it could--" ~~the accountants searched and searched with a fine toothed comb but "compassion" costs time and money. that's just a silly human emotion. got compassion? YOU'RE FIRED! yes, ms. brauwens, you see it; you are disposable~~~and you've got bills to pay!.
hang in there, mr. hull!!!!!!! ♥
Oh, but the Chuck Schumer, slimy weasel that he is, has a plan! Bring in millionaire foreign investors to snatch up all the foreclosed homes! AND they get a visa! What a deal!
"Many people want to come and live in the United States," said Sen. Charles Schumer (D-N.Y.), who introduced the legislation Thursday along with Sen. Mike Lee (R-Utah). "They will be here spending money and paying taxes, and the most important thing is they'll sop up the extra supply of homes we have right now compared to demand, and that's what's dragging our economy down."
http://articles.latimes.com/2011/oct/20/business/la-fi-visas-home-buyers-20111021
I saw Schumer on CNBC yesterday morning, touting his plan to give away our homes. He looked like a zombie, with flat, colorless eyes that reflected nothing. He lacked all animation and emotion, as if he had succumbed completely to the amoral greed of his corporate masters. Schumer needs to be institutionalized.
I wish Bobby Hull all the luck in the world and I hope he succeeds in raising awareness. He's got a great fighting spirit. He's a good human being, unlike Schumer, who has succumbed to his baser instincts to such an extent that he is finally and completely insane.
Thank you for sharing this information about Senator Schumer. I had thought that Senator Schumer was a patriotic nationalist, not someone who would turf out a Vietnam Vet in favor of a foreign business man, who made his money who knows how.
I live in NYC, and I have NEVER voted for Schumer. And, thanks, lefttown, for including your direct quote from Schumer. It's important for people to know that he is a Wall Street shill, and he receives millions of campaign dollars from the various banks and banksters. Schumer does NOT represent his constituents -- we the people.
In a conversation about Wall Street, money and politicians:
"Chuck Schumer to take an example, he raised so much money up through I think 2004-2005. He actually stopped taking personal contributions. " -- Kevin Drum in an interview with Bill Moyers
http://www.pbs.org/moyers/journal/01082010/watch.html
I've picketed Schumer, but never voted for him either. Mostly what he does is support war, Wall Street and Israel.
I haven't picketed Schumer, but I have picketed Bloomberg a couple of times.
Good for you! And, thanks!!
My suggestion for lending support, awareness; simple, quick, low-cost:
http://open.salon.com/blog/daniel_geery/2011/11/18/occupy_your_lawn
What about homes being forclosed by the government because of unpaid taxes?
What is the point of distracting from this issue? Again, you always diminish OWS, at every opportunity.
Rosmarie,
Are you aware that many of the BIG banks have paid cities and towns to buy the tax liens on people who can't afford to pay those R.E. taxes and then add on all kinds of outrageous fees, increasing what they already owe in taxes? That's how cities and towns are able keep their heads above water these days. Yup! Sell the tax liens to the banksters.
....................In my state, we can file a "Homestead Act" which will prevent holders of tax liens and other kinds of liens from confiscating your property. When you die, they'll get their money when the property is sold. Basically, you can tell them to F-off while you're still alive.
I don't get it ....... Bank of A is losing $150,000, plus ????????
Or is this mortgage part of the toxic waste, and in reality Bank or A loses nothing
because the Fed. bought the Toxic stuff,in the" big bundle" and we the citizen take the loss
Look who bought the property, we are still being scammed.
Time to create " Citizen Central "
It is common for banks to sell foreclosed homes at a "loss". There are maintenance expenses, especially during the winter months, taxes, liability, etc.
But, today's world gets crazier by the minute.
I met a guy last winter who had been foreclosed on, $150,000 still outstanding on the mortgage. He had tried and tried to get the bank to restructure the loan, while he sought a new job. He finally declared bankruptcy. End of story? No. His girlfriend purchased the house for $19,000 from the bank. They both still live in it.
The appearance is that the bank/banks want to break people.
Buck: Thanks for your post. I agree -- the world gets crazier by the minute!
I have read similar stories to the one you outline in your post. More often that not, though, the house is completely lost to its original owners. In this case, they fared much better -- except that the male owner was forced to file bankruptcy and will have to live with the effects of the bankruptcy for a long time to come. If the couple had been married, the female would NOT have been able to buy the house. She, too, would have been caught up in the bankruptcy. Or, possibly, her name wasn't on the original deed.
The difference in the amount owed and the amount for which the bank settled on in the case of this one house shows all of us what could be done to help people "if the bank/banks didn't want to break people."
Hi ya Kay, The despair compounds for the downtrodden. A new entrepreneur industry is booming; buying the contents of storage lockers, the graves of the living. Forced from their homes, people jam their stuff into self storage units trying to hang on to their remaining possessions. When they can't make rent everything is lost. Besides losing the furniture and household items, so too the family pictures and sentimental gifts. It's sadder than sad.
Buck, thanks for writing about the subject of storage lockers, etc. They are, indeed, the graves of the living.
Yes, it is sadder than sad. Thanks, too, for revealing your heart!
Nice story ending, Buck.
..........Sadly, that is not the end of story. When a bank forcloses on a mortgage holder, "if that bid amount doesn't pay the loan and all the fees off, and it usually doesn't, that deficit is still owed by the borrower(s)."
..........Only a bank-approved Short Sale will free the borrower from bank losses. ............There's no question the banks "want to break people". And it's not just the banks, it's the politicians who pass legislation allowing the banks to do it. We have a tendency to always focus on the corporations that are screwing us and let the lawmakers get a free pass.
Crazy crazy. Buying a foreclosed home at auction would give you a house with a lot of bad karma rattling around inside. But buying your OWN foreclosed house - priceless.
"Hennepin County records show Bank of America sold the property in August to U.S. Bank for $83,700." ... It would be wise to determine just what the bank sold at such a bargain. Was it a derivative, a partial factor of a packaged product that evaporated in financial storms ? The bank sold $230,000 for $84,000, but would not compromise with Mr. Hull ? He would have easily qualified and happily refinanced at 85 or 86. I smell a rat. What exactly did the bank sell. Let's see that paper trail, please.
should those that cannot afford housing be forced to go without?
should others fight that they be allowed to remain, free of charge?
why would others continue paying for housing, then?
should others, still working and paying, share their dwellings with those less fortunate?
by choice, or decree?
how does this reconcile with working and paying as the behaviors killing the living world?
clearly, property ownership is a situational right, and not an inherent one...
the situation has changed...
Have you been homeless, without a job, or hungry, or in jail? Until you have experienced it, you can hardly feel enough compassion to care, or consider sharing. It's a wealth of Spirit that is moved to help people who have less, regardless of why they got that way. This isn't about a handout, but a hand up. It is about teaching standing up for one's self first, the rest can come behind that. Anyone who has witnessed true change, righteous and compassionate change, knows what I speak of.
Two good posts, stonepig.
Why in the hell didn't the bailout get handed to people who owed the banks so they could just pay the bank? I think we should all demand that everything is paid in full and call a moratorium on ALL mortgages held by banks getting bailouts, all credit cards held by bailed out banks, and all loans to or for the big three,who have also received much money. And do it for those in the less than 100,000$ income range. Sorry working middle class...your turn is coming. Take notes. And while we are at it, GE can send us FREElight bulbs for life for not ahving to pay millions in taxes...