Mortgages

A large number of renters are losing their homes and being displaced due to the current foreclosure crisis. At least 2,500 tenant households are expected to be disrupted by foreclosures in Hennepin County alone this year.

Legislators have formed working groups to look at a serious statewide response to the mortgage foreclosure crisis. While assistance efforts are being initiated at the federal level for homeowners, renters have been largely ignored. Therefore, it will be important for state legislators to establish tenant protections, increase the capacity of foreclosure prevention programs and address the problems caused by vacancies, vandalism and community devastation.

Legislative Direction

Support legislation that protects renters from becoming homeless due to the effects of predatory lending and mortgage foreclosure of their landlords. Specific legislation may include:

Improving notice to tenants with regard to properties in foreclosure
Mandating 30-day notices for all tenants when a property is in foreclosure
Waiving filing fees for low-income tenants who take property owner to housing court
Expunging eviction records for tenants caught between the bank and property owner

Catholic Charities of St. Paul & Minneapolis - 1200 Second Avenue South, Minneapolis, MN 55403 - 612-664-8500