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Visit Tales from the Trenches, the national blog for Facing the Mortgage Crisis.
Facing the Mortgage Crisis is part of CPB’s Public Service Media Economic Response Initiative.In-Depth Reports and Programs
Below are in-depth reports and programs, local and national, that have aired on WCPN and WVIZ about the mortgage crisis.
Wednesday, May 19, 2010
Record Prison Sentence Given in Slavic Village Mortgage Fraud
A Cuyahoga County Common Pleas Court judge has given a mortgage broker 14 years in prison for his role in a $5.8 million dollar fraud case in Cleveland's hard hit Slavic Village neighborhood. ideastream's Mhari Saito reports.
Wednesday, May 19, 2010
The Long Road to “Youngstown 2010”
The City of Youngstown made international headlines seven years ago when city leaders unveiled a plan to face the future…by shrinking. The ambitious program, called “Youngstown 2010”, included the demolition of abandoned properties, the growth of green space, and a revitalized downtown. In the wake of President Obama’s recent visit to praise the city’s progress, ideastream’s David C. Barnett examines what’s been done --- and what’s left to do.
Monday, May 17, 2010
Fixing the World of Finance
Lawmakers trying to build consensus around financial reform are focused on who will regulate which institutions and which investments, and whether there ought to be an agency devoted solely to consumer protection. There's another concern: Would any of the proposals have altered the foreclosure wave that demolished Slavic Village along with vast swaths of the rest of the state and nation? Monday morning at 9, join host Dan Moulthrop and guests to talk about where fiancial reform is headed and what difference it might make.
Monday, May 17, 2010
Cleveland Versus Wall Street
A Northeast Ohio community activist walked down the red carpet at the Cannes Film Festival, over the weekend. A Swiss-made documentary on Cleveland's mortgage meltdown was screened at the prestigious movie event on Sunday. ideastream®'s David C. Barnett reports that some of the local subjects of the film flew to France to be there on opening night.
Wednesday, May 12, 2010
Origins of the Mortgage Crisis
This week, WCPN reports connected the dots between some of the region's devastated neighborhoods and the deals that put Goldman Sachs in hot water with the Senate. In short, backing those Goldman bonds were mortgages on homes in Slavic Village. It's a reminder that Northeast Ohio is very close to the heart of the mortgage crisis. Journalist Alyssa Katz tells another side of that same story in her book: "Our Lot, How Real Estate Came to Own Us." We reprise a conversation with her, Tuesday morning at 9 on 90.3.
Tuesday, May 11, 2010
Recession or Recovery?
The news lately offers no clear picture of where we are in this global recession: employment numbers are up, but so are unemployment numbers; the housing market doesn't seem as bad as it was, but Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac have just requested for another $19 billion in relief; Greece may have avoided a debt crisis, but last week showed the market is still volatile. So, is the economy improving or not? Tuesday morning at 9, join host Dan Moulthrop and local and national economists for answers.
Monday, April 26, 2010
County Land Bank, Fannie Mae In Deal
Cuyahoga County has cut a deal with a federal agency that could lead to improved values for land owners. Ideastream®'s Rick Jackson reports.
Monday, April 19, 2010
State Seeking Plan To Spend Housing Dollars
State officials say they're making progress in determining how they'll use federal stimulus dollars allocated for mortgage foreclosure relief. More from ideastream®'s Rick Jackson.
Monday, April 5, 2010
Planning For Federal Foreclosure Assistance Underway
Now that Ohio is in the mix for federal funding to ward off future foreclosures, state officials are setting about designing a proposal to actually secure the money. As Ideastream's Bill Rice reports, there are differing ideas on how best to use it.
Tuesday, March 30, 2010
Little Action In General Assembly To Stem Foreclosures
Over the past 4 years, Ohio has seen around 337-thousand home foreclosures, but state legislators have yet to approve any major bills to stem the tide. Democrats who dominate the Ohio HOUSE have okayed two proposals...but they're upset that Republicans who dominate the Senate have ignored them....and haven't even okayed any alternatives. Statehouse correspondent Bill Cohen files this report.
Take Action
United Way 211
United Way's 211/First Call For Help is a free and confidential information service ready to direct you to the health and human services you need in Cuyahoga, Geauga and Medina Counties.
Just dial 2-1-1. Professional staff are available to help you 24 hours a day, every day.
Save the Dream
The American dream of home ownership is disappearing during these times of crisis. In Ohio, rising unemployment, loss of business, and a bleak economic outlook also threaten that dream.
Help is available. Save the Dream provides information and highlights programs that Ohioians can use to help save the dream of owning a home.
Upcoming Events
ESOP Partners with Area Suburbs to Help Homeowners
Two additional suburbs will hold local intake sessions, in partnership with ESOP (Empowering & Strengthening Ohio’s People), to provide FREE foreclosure prevention counseling to area homeowners. This initiative builds on ESOP’s track record of making its highly successful foreclosure counseling practices more readily available in Cuyahoga County suburbs. ESOP already provides intakes in South Euclid and Lakewood.
Starting Feb. 4, 2010, trained counselors from ESOP will also set up shop once a week in Bedford Heights and Garfield Heights. Please see below for more detailed information on the time and location of these new intake sessions. Homeowners do not have to be city residents but MUST call or email ESOP to set up an appointment.
Bedford Heights, Every Wednesday at 6 p.m.
Jimmy Dimora Community Center, 5615 Perkins Road, Bedford Heights, OH 44146
Garfield Heights, Every Thursday at 1 p.m.
Word of Righteousness Family Life Center, 13455 Dressler Avenue, Garfield Heights, Ohio 44125
To make an appointment or for more information, please call ESOP at 216-361-0718 or email .
ABOUT ESOP:
ESOP is a HUD-certified housing counseling agency. ESOP’s success stems from partnerships with various lenders and servicers, allowing for easy negotiation of loan modifications. ESOP has been nationally and internationally recognized for its campaigns against predatory lenders and for its success obtaining mortgage resolutions that keep families in their homes.
Funding
Funding for the coverage of economy and jobs topics comes from The Cleveland Foundation; The George Gund Foundation; The Kelvin and Eleanor Smith Foundation; The Nord Family Foundation; The Bruening Foundation; The Community Foundation for Lorain County; and The Charter One Foundation.
