Walk Event To Educate Homeowners On Foreclosure Prevention

DETROIT (WWJ/AP) — Volunteers are expected to share information with some west side Detroit residents facing foreclosure on how they can save their homes.

District 7 Councilman Gabe Leland says Saturday's Walk to Defend our Neighbors and a Monday meeting with Wayne County treasury officials are part of a campaign to educate home and property owners about foreclosure prevention.

More than 60,000 of Wayne County's 76,000 foreclosed properties are in Detroit. Teams of volunteers will visit District 7 homes on the foreclosed property list.

Ernest Johnson was one of a few dozen volunteers covering about 12 blocks in District 7.

"We believe that the mayor Mike Duggan is on the right track in terms of trying to build up the population in the city," Johnson said. "One of the ways is to keep people in their homes. When we keep people in their houses, then it will make a stronger neighborhood."

Leland says new laws have been created and programs are available that can lower taxes and interest rates on homes in foreclosure.

"Right now, counties throughout the entire state can charge up to 18 percent on money owed," Leland told WWJ Newsradio 950's Jason Scott. "What this is going to do is it's going to knock that interest rate down to six percent, so now people will actually be able to afford their payment plan and their payment arrangement."

Hundreds of Detroit homeowners attended county hearings in January to have their individual foreclosure cases heard and work out payment plans on the tax debt.

"If you find your bill and you can figure out what 10 percent of what you owe in taxes, bring a check or a money order to Monday's meeting and the Wayne County Treasurer's Office will actually enroll you in a payment plan," Leland said. "The deadline to do so is March 31."

A public meeting with the Wayne County Treasurer's Office has been set up for Monday at Don Bosco Hall for residents seeking a tax payment plan.

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