10/19/09 Stockholm, Sweden – As more Americans suffer unemployment they are falling behind on their most important debts, like mortgage payments. Reuters recently reported that a record 7.65 percent of all US mortgages are now 30 days past due, and falling behind can eventually lead to mortgage defaults.
Foreclosure always has a deeply personal side, but it’s even more difficult for those with no back up housing options. The New York Times today covers the story of Sheri West who, ironically, once owned and managed a shelter for the homeless. Unfortunately, West was foreclosed upon and now she’s homeless. Given her previous occupation it’s the last thing she expected would ever happen to her.
As recently as 2006, homelessness was basically unrelated to foreclosure. However, mortgage defaults have become so widespread that social service agencies now find roughly 10 percent of the homeless population is made up of ex-homeowners. It’s a new and growing demographic, made up of families that haven’t needed help in the past and that are humiliated by the situation. It’s just another example of the dark side of asset bubbles like we’ve seen in housing.
The New York Times has more intense and personal coverage of ex-homeowners turning to shelters.
Rocky Vega
Rocky Vega is publisher of Agora Financial International, where he advances the growth of Agora Financial publishing enterprises outside of the US. Previously, he was publisher of The Daily Reckoning, and founding publisher of both UrbanTurf and RFID Update -- which he ran from Brazil, Chile, and Puerto Rico -- as well as associate publisher of FierceFinance. Rocky has an honors MS from the Stockholm School of Economics and an honors BA from Harvard University, where he served on the board of directors for Let’s Go Publications, Harvard Student Agencies, and The Harvard Advocate.
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Hey Rocky, I like the Jesus on the Cross photo with houses on around. In the end, most of us are going to be crucified.
The NY Times actually reported news? Negative news on the effects of the liberal agenda. Short ‘em.
Why not let those being foreclosed upon take the FEMA trailers down in Georgia. There are 4500 of them I believe.
That would make reasonable accommodations for a lot of people until things begin to get better.