Avoiding Foreclosure- a story

Linda's story

Linda has overcome incredible hardships. After 32 years of marriage, her husband passed away. Because of exorbitant medical bills, collection agencies were knocking at her door. After steady work, her job disappeared. After 10 years of steady house payments, her bank began calling to take away her house. That is what brought Linda to Hacienda CDC, to an organization that, in her words, “went beyond the call of duty.”

Linda has seen her share of letters, notes, and calls from “loan modification specialists” that charge an up-front fee in exchange for faulty promises. She decided to go with Hacienda CDC instead, whose offices are within walking distance of her house. Part of what Linda acknowledges as the invaluable help that Hacienda CDC provides is “knowing there are strangers out there who care. My house is the most important asset that I own.” Hacienda CDC believes that safe and affordable housing is a human right- loosing a house can be life-changing.

Omar Martinez, the Homeownership Manager has been working with Linda since October, 2009. Omar continues to walk Linda through the confusing process of working with a lender- a situation that can be long and frustrating. She does most of the work; looking for employment, finding a roommate, calling her lender, and keeping detailed records. “The language the bank uses is vague and contradictory; the process is difficult. Omar offered me more that he was required to,” said Linda. The job of Hacienda CDC’s homeownership program is not to perform a one time operation. Rather, it is a journey with a neighbor who is not alone in her struggle for success in hard times.

<click here> to learn more about Hacienda CDC's Foreclosure Prevention work