LANSING, Mich. — A flood of foreclosures and evictions. Experts believe that's what we'll likely see in the coming months as eviction moratoriums end. So what can you do to protect yourself from an eviction or foreclosure - during this recession? Chris Conte has some answers.
Sheltered place, shielding her family from the virus.
"It’s my security and my family’s protection through all of this."
Sherry Stanley is petrified that her home is on the verge of being taken away.
"I feel nervous, constantly"
After a bitter divorce, this 42-year-old fell behind on mortgage payments.
With her foreclosure case still being litigated in court, Sherry thought an eviction moratorium would protect her.
But as the signs in her yard suggest, that was not the case.
"I’ve been harassed this whole time, people showing up on my property."
A few weeks ago a local realty company listed Sherry's home for auction.
Even though Massachusetts where she lives, has haulted foreclosures.
"It makes it scarier because you don’t feel settled and you can’t depend on anyone because no one is listening to the law."
Making matters worse, housing courts across the country are closed.
So instead of waiting for court orders, tenants are being targeted.
As some landlords and banks are circumventing the courts - pressuring homeowners and renters to get out.
"I’m nervous someone is going to take our home and we’ll have nowhere to go right now, during this pandemic, which the law is you can’t kick anyone out but with courts closed I don’t know what to do."
In an effort to keep renters informed, non-profits like the Worcester Anti-Foreclosure Team are sending flyers to let tenants know about their rights.
"I think people are really scared."
Grace Ross oversees the group.
She's been inundated with calls from renters being harrassed by landlords.
Eventhough the CARES Act has a hold on evictions for government backed loans until July.
The most critical thing is to get information about your rights.
Once holds are lifted, Grace is concerned they'll be a flood of evictions and foreclosures nationwide.
Currently 26 states still have some kind of eviction protections in place.
Many though will run out as soon as emergency declarations end.
Grace Ross' advice start working with your landlord or bank now.
"It doesn’t do a landlord any good to kick someone else and not get a new person in."
"I think they need to protect if they tell people they’re gonna protect them."
A protection that many Americans are finding out, they don't have.
If people are being improperly evicted or foreclosed upon while such actions are supposed to be on hold they can try reaching out to the state attorney general's office and ask for the consumer protection division
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