Study Released on Foreclosures In North Minneapolis
As the number of foreclosures continues to rise, HPP has contracted with HousingLink to study the foreclosures that have occurred in two north Minneapolis zip codes, 55411 and 55412. Approximately half of the foreclosures that have occurred in Minneapolis in 2005 and 2006 were concentrated in those two zip codes.
The first phase of this study, entitled “Analysis of Detailed Sheriff’s Sale Data: Includes 2005-2006 data for ZIP codes 55411 & 55412”, was released on March 6, 2008 and can be found here.
MinnPost reports "Blimp payment: the latest in mortgage fraud?"
Mark Ireland, staff attorney for the Foreclosure Relief Law Project (FRLP) at HPP, is featured in the January 16th Edition of MinnPost.com. 'Blimp Payment': the latest in mortgage fraud? reports on a lawsuit recently filed by Ireland on behalf of the homeowner. For more information on FRLP, click here.
HPP Launches New Project To Address Home Foreclosures
A wave of home foreclosures is sweeping the nation, and in Minnesota the problem has reached crisis proportions. In the Twin Cities Metropolitan Area, the number of foreclosures has tripled since 2000, with most of the increase occurring in the last couple of years. Not surprisingly, many of these foreclosures are concentrated in high poverty and minority areas. Of the 1,610 foreclosure sales in the City of Minneapolis during 2006, more than 50% occurred in zip codes 55411 and 55412 on the north side. Other local and national data strongly suggest that minorities are disproportionately victims of foreclosures.
The Foreclosure Relief Law Project (FRLP) is a new endeavor for HPP. Through this project, HPP seeks to develop legal and policy strategies to respond to this recent and ongoing foreclosure epidemic.
FRLP hopes to develop strategies that can be replicated by legal services and pro bono attorneys in order to build our legal community’s capacity to represent homeowners in foreclosure. Where appropriate and viable, FRLP intends to utilize impact litigation to achieve the most widespread results possible. FRLP is also participating in state and federal legislative efforts aimed at responding to the current crisis and reforming foreclosure laws to better protect the interests of homeowners and their communities in the future.
The FRLP intends to use its legal tools to complement the work being done by various public and philanthropic entities seeking to ameliorate the effects of mass foreclosures on communities in the Twin Cities Metropolitan Area, particularly on the hard hit areas in north Minneapolis.
The FRLP is generously funded by the Family Housing Fund. The Family Housing Fund is a nonprofit organization whose mission is to produce and preserve affordable housing for low- and moderate-income families in the Twin Cities metropolitan area.
Star Tribune Uses HPP Data to Call for More Affordable Housing Production by Metro Cities
On July 17, the Minneapolis Star Tribune lead editorial proclaimed “Metro failing to meet housing goals”. The editorial went on to discuss the obligations Twin Cities local governments have to meet affordable housing goals negotiated with the Metropolitan Council. Relying extensively on data compiled by HPP and partner organizations on a new website, www.TCHousingPolicy.org, the newspaper observed that many cities are far behind on meeting their affordable housing goals and should do much more. When the Met Council reviews new city plans for the next decade, the editors suggested the Council should take a hard look at the plans and consider them in light of how much progress cities have been making in meeting their current goals. The editorial also quoted HPP President Tim Thompson on the importance of cities not just planning but then acting on those plans as well.
The new TCHousingPolicy website, discussed elsewhere on this page, contains a wealth of information on local governments and their role in affordable housing production.
HPP Launches New Affordable Housing Policy Website
Created to arm citizens and community groups with the information they need to advocate for more effective affordable housing policies in their own Twin Cities communities, TCHousingPolicy.Org contains:
- Background Information - to help citizen-advocates understand this complex issue
- Best Practices - potential solutions that local governments can employ
- Localized City Information - find out about affordable housing and your city
- Related Topics - learn more about topics related to affordable housing policy and issues
Visit TCHousingPolicy.Org to learn more about what you can do as a citizen to learn more about affordable housing and how to encourage your city to meet its affordable housing goals.
HPP Welcomes Two New National Board Members
On March 13th, 2007, HPP's Board of Directors approved the addition of two new national Board Members, Mr. Michael Bodaken and Professor john a. powell. Mr. Bodaken is the President of the National Housing Trust in Washington, D.C. and Professor powell is the Executive Director of the Kirwan Institute for the Study of Race and Ethnicity in Columbus, OH.