Join us. Lets tell the city- No more tax title auctions in Springfield

Jackie and Son   picture by John Morris

Please join Arise and Springfield No One Leaves to let the city of Springfield know that we will not  stand for one more sale of property by auction that has been taken by tax title and sold to speculative developers instead of serving the  citizens who are in need of housing in their very own city.

Tuesday June 18th, 2013
Springfield City Hall
5:30pm
We will meet in front of city hall- located across from Court Square downtown Spfld
Visit Arise Facebook Page for updates and more information on contacts and directions

                                       https://www.facebook.com/groups/75509399798/

Please Join Us Let our voices be heard

Activist ejected from House Hearing 5 Detained

Dump DeMarco’ housing activists ejected from House hearing

By Arturo Garcia
Tuesday, March 19, 2013 15:13 EDT

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Topics: Ed DeMarco ♦ Federal Housing Finance Agency ♦ jeb hensarling

 

Housing activists staged a demonstration during a meeting of the House Committee on Housing Finance on Tuesday, disrupting testimony by Ed DeMarco, acting director of the Federal Housing Finance Agency.
According to C-SPAN, the protesters were members of several advocacy groups, including City Life/Vida Urbana, New Bottom Line, NEW ROAD, and Right to the City. At first, demonstrators stood up one at a time while DeMarco was testifying before the committee before being ordered out by chairman Rep. Jeb Hensarling (R-TX).
After the second protester is ejected, one person can be heard saying, “I thought Barney Frank had retired,” a reference to the former Massachusetts congressman, who has accused the housing industry of fostering a climate that led to the country’s mortgage crisis.

www.homesforall.org

Shortly after the second ejection, a third person holds up a sign saying, “Dump DeMarco,” leading Hensarling to ask Capitol police to escort a group of about 12 demonstrators out of the hearing.
“Ladies and gentlemen, we’re not gonna allow you to disturb this hearing as part of the people’s House,” he said as the demonstrators were led out.
Last year, protesters gathered outside DeMarco’s home in Silver Spring, Maryland criticizing his performance.
Watch video of DeMarco’s testimony being derailed by protesters, posted on Tuesday, below

HOMES FOR ALL- Launch Wed March 13, 2013

Springfield plans tour to focus on housing crisis

By The Associated PressThe Associated Press
on March 11, 2013 at 7:22 AM

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                                                                        Visit the Right to the City National

www.homesforall.org 413-734-4948

Call Arise for details on where when

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SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (AP) — A coalition of housing advocates in Springfield will host a city-wide tour to call attention to the housing crisis in the city.
The tour is part of a national campaign to be launched Wednesday in at least a dozen cities around the country. The campaign, called "Homes For All: Defend, Reclaim, Rebuild Our Communities," seeks to focus attention on the housing crisis.
Springfield-area residents who have been directly affected by evictions, homelessness, public housing destruction and foreclosure will lead elected officials and community leaders on the tour. Stops will include vacant, foreclosed property, city neighborhoods that have been hard hit by foreclosures, a homeless shelter and tenant-owned cooperative housing.
The campaign will call on the federal government to invest new resources to created affordable, accessible and safe homes.

www.homesforall.org

HOMES FOR ALL March 13, 2013 Launch

Ruben Santiago Vice President Arise for Social Justice
URGENT!
On March 13th, 2013 Arise for Social Justice and Springfield No One Leaves, working as the Springfield Right to the City Alliance will  be launching a New National Campaign. Homes For All, Defending, Reclaiming and Rebuilding our Communities. www.homesforall.org
 Springfield Massachusetts along with nine other cities across the United States will be holding various actions to bring attention to the crisis that has been paralyzing our country for far to long. HOUSING!  We will attempt to show our elected officials and concerned residents the reality of what our city has become and some ideas of what can be done about it.
If you are concerned about Homelessness, racial disparities, displaced families, shelter regulations, unfit living conditions, gentrification and Foreclosures come and join us on March 13th. Your voice is important. We can make a difference.
 You will be standing with thousands of other concerned folks across the country.
 We will get the attention of The White House, H.U.D, Fannie Mae & Freddie Mac, our City and our State. Letting them know that People need stable Homes that they can afford. Letting them know that our neighborhoods are disappearing. The fabric of our families and our diverse cultures are in jeopardy by the fracturing of our communities.
With all of the bickering in Washington over budget cuts and tax increases, we cannot let the urgent cry for housing get diluted and lost in the D.C. Shuffle.
We need you!
Join us.
Details of the day's schedule and locations will be released within the coming week.
For more information on the national actions visit www.homesforall.org
Please feel free to call Arise to volunteer to help with arrangements for March 13th.
The Homes For All campaign, can change the way we address Housing in Springfield. In Massachusetts. In The United States of America, for generations to come.
URGENT!
GET INVOLVED.

"Most Serious Attack on Poor People In 25 Years"

Forty voices filled with frustration. From all areas of our community. A vicious attack on us by the state government was underway. The guidelines for determining homelessness were revised. Under these new revisions , you could even sleep in a car and NOT be considered homeless The legislation crossed our governors desk, and HE SIGNED IT.
     
      We showed up on Thursday July 26th at 12:00 noon. The employees that worked in the Mass State building located on Dwight st in Springfield were forewarned as they arrived for work that morning. They knew we were coming. We arrived carrying sings and organizing chants. Mad, worried and determined, we stood on the walk in front of the building. Cars honked, folks yelled out windows in support. Michaelann Bewsee E.D of Arise, said that it was the worst attack on poor people she had seen in 25 years. This statement got allot of attention. Arise for Social Justice has been a advocate of the poor folks in our city for decades. Michaelann has seen it all. Alone we are easy targets for the oppressors. That is why we have to come out and stand together on attacks like these. We have strength in numbers. They cant ignore us. And anyone who knows Michaelann, knows it is close to impossible to ignore her.

      We entered the State building and marched up three flights of Stairs to Governor Devall Patricks office. We carried a protest sign with the signatures of all that were there that day.Outside of the Governors office door, we were meant by Elizabeth a staffer in the Devall Patrick administration.
She told us that she wanted to hear what we all had to say. She also told us that she has been a fan of Arise for a long time. She was cordial and invited all of us (30 +) into a large board meeting room. She introduced herself and her colleague's and stated that she felt this new legislation was a sensitive issue. Michaelann explained in clear and concise language that we wanted the revision changed and not left to the discretion of the agency or government officials whimsical or literal interpretations. Plainly she stated  "That if you were living in a bus station on Friday you were considered homeless, and therefore eligible for shelter. However on Saturday when the revision was instituted, under the same bus station roof as Friday, you would no longer be considered homeless and thus, NOT ELIGIBLE FOR SHELTER."
 


    This is the ATTACK Michaelann was referring to. Cuts in exactly the wrong place. On the most indefensible population of the state .And not just the state, but our country. You have to wonder who is responsible for this unforgivable, heartless piece of legislation? Well folks,I hate to think that the Governor fully realized the potential impact that this change would have on us. Did someone explain the "Bus Station Example" to him? Did he get it? Elizabeth, the staffer could not offer any relief beyond promising that Devall Patrick would be made aware of our protest and our visit. Oh, and our Protest sign with all of our signatures.

     We ended our 30 minute visit with Elizabeth and staff abruptly, Michaelann making it clear we were not happy or satisfied in any way. So what do we do now? Did you call your state rep? Senator? Congressmen? Are you as mad as we are?  This is just wrong on so many levels.
  
      Please get involved. A phone call to your elected officials office in a presidential election year carries a little more weight than non election years. We must all at least do that. Call Arise, ask what you can do .Better yet, visit us at 467 State street in Springfield Massachusetts. We love visitors. We need you to help support our campaigns. If you want to help, but cant come down,please contribute. Drop a check in the mail. Your financial support helps insure the grassroots work that we mobilize on. It cost us money and we are poor folks also. Collectively we do make a difference. We need your help. Times are tough. We are experiencing extreme hardship. Please insure the integrity of our work.

WHATS IS 467 STATE STREET?

I had lived in Western Massachusetts all of my life before I moved to Springfield. I had only lived here for a couple of months. I had walked by 467 State Street many times. The sign, ARISE FOR SOCIAL JUSTICE, intrigued me. Social Justice? Well I was pretty sure I was all about Social Justice. Isn't everyone? I would look in the window and see that the folks inside always seemed very busy. There was a mix of folks inside. Older, younger, White, Latino, African American. People going and coming, Most of the folks either on the phone or in front of a computer monitor. Some younger folks making big signs, "JUSTICE FOR MICHAEL"   What the heck do they do in there? I had asked some of my friends if they knew what ARISE was. One dude told me it was a "Lefty cult, very radical, some Jesus freak shit" This made no sense to me. There were signs in the windows, but nothing about Jesus. Nobody was coming out in the street after me trying to recruit me to sell incense and handing out those Jesus pamphlets. No, I was pretty sure my friend was wrong. I would often stop and read the literature posted in the window. "Police Brutality case nearing
close"    http://www.masslive.com/news/index.ssf/2012/03/former_springfield_police_offi_4.html - "3 Strikes legislation in the House" - "Do you owe Community Service Hours? You Can do them Here". I had to find out what Arise For Social Justice was all about. I owed the Commonwealth of Massachusetts a fine. I wasn't working at the time and paying this fine was near to impossible. The representatives at the Hall of Justice were understanding enough to allow me to perform community service in lieu of the fine. 

This is how I discovered what Arise for Social Justice was all about. On my first day, I was asked to hand out flyers addressing a upcoming rally. The next few weeks I started to get to know the staff and other volunteers. They were working for SOCIAL CHANGE, at a grassroots level. These folks were committed to issues I had been concerned with for a very long time. I did not know that there were local organizations that fought for these important concerns, issues such as Homelessness, Poverty, Police Injustice, Needle Distribution, Tenants Rights. 

On a daily basis I would see families come into the office that were being evicted or losing their section 8 housing. I was amazed at the level of compassionate concern shown to each and every one of these folks. From advocacy to the housing court, to advising individuals of their right with an arrest or a mistreatment by the local law enforcement. 

I discovered there were many issues I knew little about. The Arise staff were kind, generous and patient, educating me on many issues and taking the time to be sure I understood them. On one occasion, I was handing out flyers promoting a upcoming event on the 3 Strikes Legislation currently being considered in Massachusetts. On that day the Governor was scheduled to speak. The New Dunbar Center was merging with the YMCA, and  all of our local politicians showed up. The Mayor, a Congressman, City Councilors, a host of  Springfield businessmen and the media. This was the first time I would identify myself as being from Arise for Social Justice. As Mayor Sarno was arriving at this event, I approached and handed him a flyer denouncing the 3 strikes bill. (Little did I realize I'd be seeing a  lot more of Mayor Sarno.) The feeling I clearly recall from that day was a sense of purpose. Like I was making a difference. Just handing out flyers and asking folks to support us. The issue needed support. It still does! 

On that day, I carried an important message. One person to another. Approaching and talking with a mother with children in tow or a college student or a businessman on lunch, about the great burden this law would put on our Families, our Community our State and our Country. I was beginning to realize that I wasn't just handing out flyers. I was helping to influence a proposed law, at a Grassroots level. I began to realize further that this is how change begins. This is how we can make a difference in our City, in our State and in our Country.

My life has changed considerably since I walked into 467 State street. I have been honored to meet committed individuals who are willing to stand up to the bureaucrats and fight injustice. The folks who call themselves members of Arise, give a voice to the poor and the homeless, speak out against industry that destroys our environment and fearlessly demand answers from our elected officials.

I am proud to stand with my colleagues and call myself a member of  Arise for Social Justice.

Please join us on the firing lines and help us make a difference.

become a housing Discrimination Tester!

Nearly 4 million Cases  of 
Housing Discrimination Occur Each Year - YOU HAVE THE POWER TO CHANGE THAT  STATISTIC

 Become A HOUSING DISCRIMINATION TESTER

Wednesday, June 13, 2012

57 Suffolk Street, 3rd Floor, Holyoke, MA

Deadline: June 12

Call Tanya Jones-Murray

413-539 9796 x 112

www.massfairhousing.org

Refreshments will be served

 

TWO opportunities for solidarity this Monday

JUSTICE FOR CHARLES

 

THIS IS THE BIG ONE! Charles Wilhite's next hearing is this Monday, April 9th at 9 am. It is an evidentiary hearing for the 25(b)2 Motion, for which there are four possibilities (below).  For those of you unfamiliar with the case, Charles is currently behind bars for life due to a wrongful conviction of murder in the first degree.  Those of us involved in his campaign for freedom are positive that he is innocent.  Now, the judge is starting to reconsider his position.  Judges RARELY consider 25(b)2 motions.   Here are the possibilities:

1) Judge Velis denies the motion; we go back to square one

2) Velis reduces the sentence 

3) Velis orders a new trial 

4) Velis sets aside the guilty verdict to a non-guilty verdict 

Charles' daughterAs you can see, there is A LOT resting on this hearing. We had 70 people at his last hearing - let's double our presence at this hearing!! Charles' daughter just celebrated her 5th birthday. Let's PACK THE SIDEWALKS AND THE COURTHOUSE on Monday, SPREAD THE WORD FAR AND WIDE, and WRITE LETTERS to the DA to make sure that Charles can be there for his daughter's 6th birthday!!

Following the Justice for Trayvon Walk (which brought out thousands of people), the Justice for Charles campaign held a Community Conversation on Race and Justice in the Springfield Public Library.  We had 40 community members, religious leaders, organizers, and family members join together to discuss their opinions, experiences, and hopes for the future.  We are in an exciting, momentous time in the movement for racial justice here in Springfield, and beyond.  We recognize that this movement is bigger than Charles - and that the more pressure we exert on Monday on behalf of Charles, the more power we will then possess for the next Charles.. and the next Melvin.. and the next Rekia... and the next Trayvon.. 

Please meet us outside the courthouse (50 State Street) at 8:30 am on Monday April 9th.  We will hold signs and rally before going inside to the hearing.   The hearing may last a few hours.  

There should be cars leaving Amherst and Northampton Monday morning for Springfield.  If you would like a ride, please message me on facebook or call me at 617-460-5238 and we'll figure something out.  

With love and solidarity-

Dan Keefe

P.S. feel free to forward this message on to your friends.  

==================================================================

How often do you hear this - an investor owner of a property is offered a check from an occupant - and the investor TURNS IT DOWN! 

Join us next Monday for a rally where we will deliver a rent check and demand that Richard Blaser and Richard Werman accept Tammy Sullivan's rent and stop evicting her after CHASE bank foreclosed on her! 

UN-RENT STRIKE & Rally W/ The Sullivan Family

Targets: Investor Richard Blaser and Foreclosing Bank: JP Morgan Chase! 

MONDAY APRIL 9TH @ 3:30 PM

16 South Boulevard, West Springfield, MA (MAP)

Outside the Investor's office! - park around the corner on High St. 

Tammy Sullivans Fight Against Chase Bank and Richard Blaser: 

Tammy Sullivan lives with her two daughters in a house they've owned for 14 years and that has been in their family for 31 years! She fell behind on her mortgage after a car accident in February 2011, and tried repeatedly for a modification with Chase bank - submitting the same paperwork 5 different times only to get the run-around from Chase's modification department. 

Last December, prior to the house being foreclosed, Tammy was informed that she had an outstanding loan balance of just under $11,000. Determined to keep her home, Tammy told that bank that she was going to take out nearly double that from her 401K savings that she had been saving from her full time job as a Customer Service Consultant and her part time job as a Sales Associate to pay off the outstanding balance. While in the middle of the process of receiving her 401K, Chase Bank moved to foreclose on her home on December 21, 2011. Get this: Instead of waiting to work with Tammy, Chase spent over $10,000 in legal fees to foreclose on the home, and sold it to a private investor at auction for only $28,000! 

Since then, Richard Blaser - the investor who purchased the property has refused to accept rent and told Tammy he would sell the house back to her for $70,000. The house is only valued at $40,000! Recently, Mr. Blaser moved to evict Tammy and her daughters from their home no-fault! An eviction hearing is scheduled for next Thursday April 12th in Housing Court. 

If Mr. Blaser accepts rent, he can still market the property occupied! Why not accept rent, keep the Sullivan's in their home of 31 years and continue to market the property?

We will not stand for investors or banks who prey on our communities and put profit before people, who would rather evict than accept rent! According to Deed records, Mr. Blaser and his associated have made a habit out of purchasing foreclosed properties and flipping them for profit. Since 2009 they've profited nearly $300,000 on purchasing foreclosed properties in the area. 

JOIN US NEXT MONDAY TO BRING THE FIGHT STRAIGHT TO MR. BLASER AND HIS ASSOCIATES! 

We'll see you there! 

Springfield No One Leaves/Nadie Se Mude Campaign

www.springfieldnooneleaves.org,nooneleavessspringfield@gmail.com,413-342-1804

Follow Springfield No One Leaves on Facebook

ITS ABOUT TO GO DOWN IN SPRINGFIELD: 3 WEEKS, 3 ACTIONS ON THE WALL ST. BANKS!

In October over 200 people gathered in Springfield to make clear that our city will not be controlled by corporations and corporate greed. We demanded that Springfield be for the people and by the people! 

Back in September, over 55 of us traveled to join 3000 people for a massive march on the Bank of America headquarters in Boston, where 24 foreclosure fighters sat-in at the BOA offices--including many people fighting foreclosure against Bank of America. 

The anti-foreclosure and eviction movement continues to grow as existing bank tenant organizing is being fueled by the occupy movement and vice-versa. 

NOW THE FIGHT IS ABOUT TO COME FRONT AND CENTER TO SPRINGFIELD, MASS! 

ITS ABOUT TO GO DOWN IN SPRINGFIELD!

3 WEEKS, 3 ACTIONS -- each one escalating the pressure on Bank of America & the Wall Street Banks! 

Foreclosure Auction Protest w/ Sister Sellou Diaite

Wednesday November 9th @ 8:30 AM

73 Middle Street, Springfield, MA

Sellou qualifies for a modification from Bank of America, but due to a divorce has been unable to finalize the modification. BOA said they would wait until after the divorce was over since Sellou has income to afford the house at the current market value. The divorce hearing is in december, but Bank of America is going through with the foreclosure anyway. To make things worse, Sellou is back home in Senegal visiting family -- when she asked Bank of America to postpone the auction until she got back on November 18th, they said NO! We will be there in force to support Sellou and make it clear to anyone who is looking to buy that we will block any attempt to evict Sellou & her family! DON'T BUY TO EVICT!

UNVEILING OF THE "Should YOU be Paying for BOA's Mess?" Photo Exhibit

Thursday November 17th @ 12 PM

Downtown Branch of Bank of America, Springfield, Mass

Join us as we unveil a powerful new photo exhibit showing the destruction left in the wake of vacant foreclosed homes owned by Bank of America in front of the downtown branch of Bank of America. BOA is bankrolling a potential lawsuit against the city of Springfield's landmark anti-foreclosure legislation even though it was unanimously approved and supported! We will not let Bank of America off the hook for the destruction they are causing, we will not let tax payers pick up Bank of America's bill again! 

(A SNEAK PEAK OF THE EXHIBIT WILL BE UP SOON AT:www.springfieldnooneleaves.org) 

MARCH & RALLY ON WALL ST. BANKS

Monday November 21st @ 11 AM

Gather at the corner of Central & Morris Streets. in the South End

(Behind the Dunkin Donuts on Central & Main St)

(FLYER ATTACHED) 

THIS IS THE BIG ONE! Join hundreds of residents fighting back against banks who are foreclosing and evicting our families for the biggest action yet against the banks! Throughout November Bank Tenant groups are organizing protests, direct actions and re-occupations of bank owned homes to keep up the pressure. This month of action will culminate as residents from all 8 cities in New England Bank Tenant Groups are coming together for a major action against Bank of America & the Wall Street banks. 

The action will end with a dramatic civil disobedience action -- if you are interested in getting involved please e-mail: nooneleavesspringfield@gmail.com

DOWNLOAD FLYERS & LOOK OUT FOR PRESS RELEASES @ www.springfieldnooneleaves.org

A Spanish version of the flyer will be out shortly as well! 

--
Springfield No One Leaves/Nadie Se Mude Campaign

www.springfieldnooneleaves.org

nooneleavessspringfield@gmail.com

413-342-1804

Rebuild Springfield Advisory Committee: listening is not necessarily hearing

On behalf of Arise, :Liz and I went to the first Rebuild Springfield Advisory Committee meeting last night at Milton Bradley Elementary School.  The listening sessions are designed for the four sections of the city hardest hit by the June 1 Tornado; this one was for residents and businesses in the South End.

Other than advisory committee members and public officials, only about 20 people attended-- not surprising given that the dates for the four meetings were announced on Friday, July 29 and last night's meeting was Tuesday, August 2.  In addition, only 6 of the 15 advisory committee members actually attended the session (a tally kept by a man-- a renter-- in the back of the room).  I will be curious to see if advisory board members make a better showing in the primarily homeowner neighborhoods .

Health and Human Services Director Helen Caulton-Harris, who I believe described herself as the liaison between the community and the advisory board, and Parks, Buildings and Recreation Management Director Patrick Sullivan, another liaison, talked about the length of the tornado and the damage done.  They also talked about the development of a Master Plan.  i admit my heart sunk a bit there, not that I hadn't heard that before.  Whose Master Plan?  How much will that plan really include the desires and needs of Springfield residents?  And how can it include them if thery're not sufficiently invited?


Most South End residents talked about the need to have their housing rebuilt.  One woman, from 15 Park St., said, "OK, you wanted us to live downtown, and we did.  Now help us come back!"  Rico Daniele of Mom and Rico's wanted to see the South End Community Center built deeper into the South End.  Someone else spoke about the need for a market.  (By the way, check out Mike Dobb's editorial in the Reminder about the same need in a different place-- should be online tomorrow.)

I'm going to try to keep an open mind about the whole process, although I know most decisions are made behind the curtain.  Still, as the organizer's axoim goes, use what you've got to get what you need.
August 5th       6:00 – 8:00 p.m.      JC Williams Comm.  Cntr         116 Florence St.
August 11th     6:00 – 8:00 p.m.      Greenleaf Comm. Center         1188 ½ Parker St.
August 16th     6:00 – 8:00 p.m.      Holy Cross Church                    221 Plumtree Rd.


Photo by Don Treeger, Republican staff photographer

Tornado Recovery: Will they really listen? Not if we don't speak out!

If you don’t read the newspaper everyday…if you’re not on the city’s email list…..then you might not know that there’s a Rebuild Springfield Citizens Advisory Committee which will make recommendations to the Mayor about how to rebuild our city.

Some people don’t want ANY new rental housing to be built to replace what is lost.. Is that what YOU want?
Some people want a supermarket built in the inner city. Do YOU like that idea?
Some people want more parks, more green space. How do YOU feel?
Some people want more businesses on Main St. but NOT a Big Box drugstore. How about YOU?

Arise for Social Justice is concerned that city decision-makers will rebuild Springfield for the people they WISH lived here, not the people who DO live here!

Make sure your voice is heard and attend these listening sessions? Need more info? Call Arise at 734-4948.

COMMITTEE'S NOTICE IN THE PAPER:


REBUILD SPRINGFIELD ADVISORY COMMITTEE SCHEDULES LISTENING TOURS
July 27, 2011 – In collaboration with the DevelopSpringfield and Springfield Redevelopment Authority’s Public/Private Partnership, the Rebuild Springfield Advisory Committee will be holding a Listening Tour during the month of August to hear from homeowners, residents and businesses about how they envision their neighborhoods to be rebuilt.  This is a unique opportunity to improve upon the past and preserve the vital components of each neighborhood. 
The tour is part of the overall Master Plan process and the Advisory Committee wants to ensure input has been solicited from each neighborhood in order to share it with the consulting firm that is ultimately chosen to prepare a master plan.  Each neighborhood affected by the tornado is unique and has individual characteristics that should be preserved.  The Advisory Committee realizes that an effective Master Plan must reflect the voices of the people and businesses that reside in each neighborhood.  These meetings are an opportunity to ensure that everyone is part of the rebuilding process.
The tours are scheduled as follows:
August 2nd       6:00 – 8:00 p.m.     Milton Bradley School             22 Mulberry St.
August 5th       6:00 – 8:00 p.m.      JC Williams Comm. Cntr         116 Florence St.
August 11th     6:00 – 8:00 p.m.      Greenleaf Comm. Center         1188 ½ Parker St.
August 16th     6:00 – 8:00 p.m.      Holy Cross Church                    221 Plumtree Rd.

Candlelight vigil to support the Dunwell family

Fannie Mae is still pursuing a no-fault eviction of the Dunwell family even though the Dunwell family has stated their willingness and offered to pay rent, or purchase the home back at the current market value with an agreement to share any future equity appreciation. On Saturday, we will join together as a community to hold a candlelight vigil in support of the Dunwell family and make it clear to Fannie Mae that enough is enough! No-fault Evictions after foreclosure destroy our communities, leave families and children without homes and depress the value of homes throughout the neighborhood by creating more vacant and boarded up homes. 

GREED IS NO REASON TO EVICT! Come out and join the fight this Saturday! 

We are determined to stop the eviction of the Dunwell family and no-fault evictions after foreclosure throughout Springfield. 

We will block this eviction if necessary!

CANDLELIGHT VIGIL W/ THE DUNWELL FAMILY -- SATURDAY APRIL 23rd, 7:00 PM

20 Hughes Street, Springfield, MA (in Forest Park off Belmont Ave via Woodlawn St.) 

David, Yanick and their 3 daughters (8, 11 and 13) are at risk of being evicted by Fannie Mae, after their home was foreclosed on by Bank of America.

The Dunwell’s fell behind in their mortgage payments only after David lost his human service job of 17 years due to severe state and federal budget cuts to Bridgewell, the private agency that he worked for.  He had no union and no protection. Bridgewell workers are now organizing with SEIU Local 509 so they’ll have protection from such treatment. Prior to losing his job, the Dunwell's had kept on their mortgage.  

In spite of his setback, David has recently been able to return to full-time work, and his wife Yanick also works full-time as a health care worker.  They have a dual income and a reliable, rent-paying tenant downstairs. 

With their current income, they could afford to purchase their home back from Fannie Mae at real market value, or to pay reasonable rent!

This case is so simple! Don’t evict no-fault! Sell back to the Dunwell family at real market value or accept rent and market occupied. The Dunwell’s are even willing to share any future equity appreciation with the bank. This is a better deal for Fannie Mae! 

For more information see www.springfieldnooneleaves.org 

Photo from KRUMNews photostream at Flickr.

Auction postoned: organizing makes a difference!

TWO rallies in the cold today, starting with the auction action in Springfield-- and it was postponed until March 24!  Guess that's what happens when you're trying to have an auction and the bankers can barely hear themselves over the chanting demonstrators and anyone who comes to bid finds out we're not going to let the family be evicted.

Here's a report from Malcolm Chu, coordinator of the No One Leaves Campaign-Springfield::

Ms. Williams' daughter on the steps of her home

Today a crowd of 25 residents, bank tenants, allies & activists gathered to protest the foreclosure auction of Ms. Inez Williams at 1179 Saint James Avenue by MidFirst Bank! Joining together with Ms. Williams children and family, the power of the community rose up again and made it clear that the time of banks destroying Springfield communities with no resistance is over. Springfield Residents are STANDING UP & FIGHTING BACK! 

As a result the foreclosure auction has been POSTPONED to March 24th, 2011 at 11AM. We will be ready to come back out in larger numbers if the bank does not negotiate with Ms. Williams and her family. After foreclosure, the bank can't get more than the real market value of the house anyway, so why not work with Ms. Williams to reduce the principal amount owed to current market value and keep her in her home, instead of leaving another family homeless and another home vacant! 

On Thursday February 24th, we are planning to protest 2 more foreclosure auctions. We will keep you posted on the status of these families' struggle. 

Guzman Family Foreclosure Auction Protest

Thursday February 24th at 9:30 AM

12-14 Foster Street, Springfield, MA

Pena Family Foreclosure Auction Protest

Thursday February 24th at 12:30PM

29 Verge Street, Springfield, MA

For more information or to get more involved in the growing Bank Tenant Movement in Springfield: 

Visit www.springfieldnooneleaves.org, E-Mail: nooneleavesspringfield@gmail.com ,Call: 413-734-4948

 

Photos by Arise interns Emily and Katy

Need affordable housing? Join SAVE For All!

In case you haven't heard, affordable housing is under big-time attack by the federal government.  In Massachusetts alone, we could lose 50,000 Section 8s and 5,000 public housing units.  We've joined the national effort and you can, too!  Here's one way:
Washington, D.C.
February 2, 2011

Dear NAHC Members and Supporters,

Strengthening America's Values and Economy For All is a new campaign to SAVE low- and moderate-income people from loss of economic security due to threatened severe cuts in federal funding and to SAVE the federal capacity to spur economic recovery and progress for the benefit of all. The campaign is being coordinated by the Coalition on Human Needs, and NAHC is taking a leading role.
NAHC has just signed on to SAVE for All's Statement of Principles, and encourages you to do the same. The campaign is developing materials that will make a case for the involvement of federal resources, engage grassroots advocates, employ media strategies, and contact members of Congress with messages consistent with SAVE's Statement of Principles.
You can view SAVE's Statement of Principles here.
To sign on to the Statement of Principles, click here.
SAVE for All is committed to including state and local organizations, especially grassroots service providers, in its campaign. In the next few days, you will receive a message from us inviting you to join the campaign as a field advocate and participate in congressional visits via conference call. NAHC encourages all its members and supporters to join these efforts. Direct communication from constituents is crucial to the success of this campaign.
Please forward this message to your networks and other service providers in your area.
Thanks for all that you do,
National AIDS Housing Coalition