Megadeveloper Jamie Purcell and his company, BJB, are systematically trying to empty the Astor House building at 1246 W. Pratt of tenants through a combination of forced evictions, intimidation, and poor conditions. Despite a city court case against the building, many tenants still lack hot water and heat, and the building’s dysfunctional elevators frequently trap residents. The building also suffers a plague of bedbugs and mice. Tenants say building management has threatened to report them for participating in organizing.

But the tenants are fighting back, and you can support them with the following actions!

Housing is a Human Right! Public Education is a Human Right! If you would like to learn more about uniting these two important struggles against racism, displacement, and privatization, email unitedagainsteviction@gmail.com.

Click on the images for larger versions.

Mary Bonelli on her porch with supporters from the neighborhood and the Albany Park Theater Project. Image from Ellyn Fortino for Progress Illinois.

This last Wednesday, the 16^th of January of this new year, 2013, Communities United Against Foreclosure and Eviction continued its fight to keep Mary Bonelli in her home.  Though Mary’s family has lived in the house on 2334 N. Mason since 1921, and has never been late with a payment, the Fannie Mae corporation is trying to throw her out into the street this winter!  Through a computer error (no fault of Mary’s), Fannie Mae failed to process a payment on time—and this has led the bank to foreclose on Mary.

But Mary has refused to go!  She called her friend Sabrina Morey of Communities United last year, and learned that many homeowners are facing the same attacks on their homes by fraudulent banks—and that together, we can fight back!  January 16^th was the day her house officially went on the Sheriff’s eviction list—along with some TWO HUNDRED THOUSAND OTHER HOMES IN CHICAGO!  More than 70 friends came out to support Mary in her press conference, declaring loud and proud that she intends to STAY IN HER HOME!  People from all generations—children as young as five years old—students from high schools and colleges in Chicago—young actors from Albany Park Theater Project—homeowners who had fought for their homes in the past and some continuing to fight—and volunteers of all ages from Communities United came out, too, holding signs in Spanish and English, and holding candles for the vigil.  It was a wonderful event!  And it’s just the latest in a series of actions we will continue to organize—not stopping until Mary’s home is taken off the eviction list, and restored  to its rightful owner—Mary Bonelli and her family!

We will continue to update you about Mary’s case, and what you can do to help.  And, if you find yourself attacked by predatory mortgages and crooked banks, too—don’t give up your home—FIGHT BACK!  Contact us today—and join Mary Bonelli, and many, many others around Chicago, the country, and the world who are demanding, in one voice:

HOUSING IS A HUMAN RIGHT!

Some news coverage of the vigil:

• Vigil held for elderly Chicago woman set to lose home from ABC7
• Neighbors help 76-year-old woman fight to keep home that’s been in her family for generations from Chicago Reporter
• Community Group Rallies Around Elderly Women Set To Lose Home Due To Alleged Bank Error from Progress Illinois
• 76-year-old woman fights Fannie Mae from Newstips

And sign Mary’s petition!

Seventy-six-year-old Mary Bonelli will be put on the sheriff’s eviction list tomorrow, despite the fact that her home foreclosure resulted from a bank error. In response, community members will hold a candlelight vigil to call for a halt to her eviction and the modification of her mortgage to reflect the home’s current market value.

Time is running out for Mary Bonelli, whose Belmont-Cragin home has been in her family for three generations.

Bonelli and her elderly sister, who took out a new mortgage to pay for repairs to the home in 2008, first went into foreclosure in spring 2011. Both women are on a fixed income, and the foreclosure was triggered when Fifth Third Bank’s online payment system failed to deduct a payment. By the time they realized the problem, the sisters were told it was too late. They then hired lawyers, who charged $2,500 up front before eventually dropping the case. Though foreclosures often take years to go through the courts, Bonelli’s went through in a matter of months.

Tomorrow, with support from her neighbors and Communities United Against Foreclosure and Eviction, Bonelli will announce that she plans to continue occupying her foreclosed home, even if the sheriff comes to evict her. Bonelli is disabled and has difficulty walking, but says she plans to stand up for her home and the community she’s lived in all her life.

“I have no place else to go, and moving would be a nightmare for me. To see all the hard work that three generations of my family have put into our home slip away because of the bank’s mistake would be devastating,” she says.

Bonelli’s house has been sold to government-backed mortgage lender Fannie Mae. Last month, she and four other Chicago families facing eviction by Fannie Mae demonstrated in front of the agency’s regional headquarters in hopes of securing a meeting. Supporters have also been calling into the office of Fannie Vice President Kristy Williams Fercho to ask for a negotiation, but have so far received no response.

Bonelli’s predicament is an all-too-common one. Together, Fannie and Freddie control more than half of all home mortgages and over 90% of newly-issued mortgages. These institutions hold enormous influence over the housing market, and have made the foreclosure crisis worse by denying principal reductions, then evicting families from their homes, only to hold vacant properties for months on end.

“Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac have received a bailout of more than $150 million to remain solvent” says Sabrina Morey, a member of Communities United Against Foreclosure and Eviction and Bonelli’s neighbor. “The taxpayers own and fund them, yet they’re evicting elderly people who have been working and paying taxes all their lives.”

Where: Starting at 5/3 Bank 1 N. Wacker Dr. at 11:00 a.m. (Corner of Madison and Franklin) Returning to Fannie Mae at 1:00pm 1 S. Wacker for a press conference.

As Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac and other major banks suspend evictions for a two-week period during the holidays, families facing foreclosure and eviction will gather to demand year-round justice. At 11 a.m. Tuesday, more than fifteen families and their neighbors and supporters will share the pain and anxiety of the foreclosure process, as well as their hopes to save their homes, by caroling at the downtown branches of the banks moving to throw them out in the coming year.

Families will sing “anti-eviction carols” in English and Spanish before returning to 1 S. Wacker at 1:00 p.m. for a press conference with five homeowners who, following the sale of their homes to Fannie Mae, face eviction in the new year.

Terry Edwards, an Executive Vice President at Fannie Mae, has said of the two-week suspension, “We’re taking this step in support of families who have faced financial challenges,” adding “We want to relieve some stress at this time of year.”

The Centro Autónomo of Albany Park and Communities United Against Foreclosure and Eviction are in agreement with the holiday moratorium, but why not take steps to create  sustainable solutions to the housing crisis so that loved ones can be relieved of stress year-round?

“We are not fooled by publicity stunts that offer band-aid solutions,” says Isabel Valenzuela of the Centro Autónomo. “Freddie and Fannie will still move forward in the legal process of eviction during the holidays, a slap in the face to families living under the threat of foreclosure.”

Together, Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac control more than half of all home mortgages and over 90% of newly-issued mortgages. These institutions hold enormous influence over the housing market, and have made the foreclosure crisis worse by denying principal reductions, then evicting families from their homes, only to hold vacant properties for months on end.  Edward DeMarco, President of Fannie Mae, holds the fate of at least four million families in his hands.

Among those who will speak at Tuesday’s press conference is Mary Bonelli, a senior citizen whose family has lived in their Belmont-Cragin home for three generations. Fannie Mae bought Bonelli’s foreclosed home this fall, and now the 76 year-old is set to be evicted in January, despite chronic health conditions and difficulty walking. Maria Dolores, a Rogers Park homeowner of 15 years who operates a local daycare, also faces imminent eviction at the hands of Fannie Mae. Marcia Iza, in threat of eviction as her home was foreclosed on in the process of a domestic violence scandal, has been contacting Fannie Mae to negotiate an offer on her home but they ignore every attempt to come to an agreement.  They will also be joined by Marilyn Elazegui, and Laurentina Gutierrez who are also in the process of eviction under Fannie Mae.

The families involved are calling on Fannie, Freddie and the “Big Four” to halt all evictions and resell the homes to their owners at market value, or donate the homes to the community land trust of the Centro Autónomo for management as permanent affordable housing.

Homeowners, tenants and supporters will also carol at the following banks from 11 a.m. until 1 p.m.

5/3rd Bank, 1 N. Wacker. Lionel Torres, a senior citizen in Hermosa, is facing foreclosure on his underwater condo by 5 3^rd Bank.  The market value of the condo is now less than one-fourth of what Lionel originally paid for it.

PNC Bank, 1 North Franklin St. Candelario and Carolina Lopez of Gage Park will share their story of foreclosure.

Bank of America, 105 W. Madison. Sergio Lopez, Patricio Dominguez, Vicente and Guadalupe Salgado, Luis Ponciano and Julio Lopez are all facing foreclosure by Bank of America.

U.S. Bank, 25 E Washington. Barry and Marcelle Lyn-Waitsman and Luis Bautista are fighting for their homes.

TCF Bank, 29 E Madison. Josue Pina of Rogers Park went into foreclosure when he was jobless. He has since found employment, but TCF Bank refuses to work with him.

Chase Bank, 2 North La Salle.  Beatriz and Bolivar Uriart and Corazon Luzón De Rosas are attempting to negotiate with Chase Bank.

For more information, contact:

• Roberto de la Riva, Centro Autónomo of Albany Park, 612 991 8584
• Sabrina Morey, Communities United Against Foreclosure and Eviction, 773 289 6835

You’re Invited! Communities United Against Foreclosure and Eviction would like to invite you to join us at one or both of our upcoming Neighbors in Action Trainings.

Usted está invitado!  Comunidades Unidas En contra de la Ejecución Hipotecaria  y los Desalojos los invita a participar a uno o a los dos eventos  de dos eventos que se aproximan Vecinos en Acción.

Neighbors in Action Training Part 1: Come learn about the foreclosure and eviction processes and strategies for keeping ourselves, and our neighbors, in our homes. You will have the opportunity to join a Neighbors in Action team that supports a person or family fighting back to keep their home.

Vecinos en Acción Primer Entrenamiento: Venga y aprenda acerca del proceso de foreclosure y del desalojo, también para ver las estrategias para que nosotros mismos y nuestros vecinos podamos permanecer en nuestras casas.  Usted va a tener la oportunidad de involucrarse en el equipo de Vecinos en Acción  para a poyar a personas o familias que están luchando para permanecer en sus casas.

Neighbors in Action Training Part 2: This second training will build on the skills of the first. You’ll learn the computer skills needed to look up foreclosure and eviction case information, and research vacant houses. We hope participants of this second training will consider leading a team of people to canvass the neighborhood and/or lead a Neighbors in Action team.

Vecinos en Acción Segunda Parte: El segundo entrenamiento es para aprender habilidades aprenderá habilidades de computadora que se necesitan para buscar información del foreclosure o del desalojo, y para buscar casas abandonadas.  Esperamos que los participantes del segundo entrenamiento podrían considerar poder conducir un equipo de personas que puedan ir tocando puertas en el vecindario y  tal ves poder conducir un entrenamiento de Vecinos en Acción.

Cuando: Sábado, Diciembre 8, 1p.m.-5p.m.
Adonde: En la Librería de Austin, 5615 W. Race Ave
Habrá cuidado de niños y habrá traducción de Ingles a Español. Habrá aperitivos.

Favor de reservar puede ir a la página unitedagainsteviction@gmail.com o llamando al (773) 349-2396.
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/events/126164527539792

Tell her: “My name is __________ I am calling on behalf of Maria Dolores, who lives at 7250 N Claremont. I am calling to ask you to stop all eviction proceedings on her and all families, and to initiate negotiations directly with her.  I vow to support her home occupation and continue protesting, until Fannie Mae gives her back her home.”

The room was packed with folks facing eviction, their allies, and members of the media, who heard speeches from homeowners, tenants, and residents of public housing and Section 8. Photo by Megan Selby.

In one of the many powerful speeches that night, Keosha (Kiki) Cummings explained to Sheriff Dart and Toni Preckwinkle her experiences facing eviction, asking them how they would like it if they were in her situation. Photo by Megan Selby.

“We owe $225,000 on the house, but it is only valued at $140,000. We tried four times for a loan modification and they were all rejected.”

—Vicente and Estela Gutierrez

A national study of 14 primary banks revealed that 30.9% of Hispanics and 41.5% of African Americans were offered unstable and expensive home loans, as opposed to 17.8% of whites. As a result, homeowners of color are now 8% more likely than whites to owe more on their home than it is worth.

Henry Warfield on the bullhorn during the public housing/Section 8 panel. Merlene Robinson-Parsons, a tenant leader at Northpoint Apartments, is making some finishing touches on her speech which is up next. Photo by Megan Selby.

“I am a senior citizen on a fixed income with no family in the area, and 5/3 bank is trying to kick me out of my house. My family has been here since 1921!”

—Mary Bonelli

The AARP reports that heads of households over 50 represented 28 percent of all mortgage delinquencies and foreclosures in 2007—at double the national rate.

Chicago Childcare Collective made signs and played with youth downstairs while their parents were upstairs demanding a moratorium. At the end of the meeting, the youth marched with their signs to the front of the room and chanted for their human right to housing. Photo by Megan Selby.

“I have lived and worked in the community for thirty years. I don’t want to uproot my family.”

–Patricia Scardina

Studies suggest that frequent moves negatively affect academic achievement and emotional development. Children with instable housing are less likely to graduate from high school than their stationary peers.

Tom Dart and Toni Preckwinkle: Will you send the deputies to evict Henry and his family this year? What about the 3,700 other families like Henry’s across the county? Photo by Megan Selby.

Virginia Morales told Dart, Preckwinkle, and the 150 others in attendance, “My parents Eliceo and Lilia Morales Martinez have lived in our home for 27 years. We are part of the statistics; we are one more Latino family facing foreclosure in the Hermosa Community. My five-year old son Daniel asked me where we are going to live if we lose the house. ‘I want to remain in my school; will I still go to the same school?’ What would be the appropriate response to a five-year old’s questions? Those of you who are not in foreclosure, can you for one moment imagine how desperate and frustrating this is for a family to be going through?” Photo by Megan Selby.

We didn’t get a satisfactory answer to our demand for a moratorium, and so the campaign will continue until we see a stop to all evictions and foreclosures! Join us at an upcoming meeting!

Communities United Against Foreclosure and Evictions

Albany Park: First and third Thursdays at 6:30pm, Albany Park Autonomous
Center, 3460 W. Lawrence. For more information call Tom, Roberto, or Tony at
773-583-7728 (Spanish/English) or email tony@mexicosolidarity.org and
roberto@mexicosolidarity.org.
           NEXT MEETING: Thursday, August 16

Austin: Location and time of next meeting to be confirmed. Call Gloria at 773-827-
3814 (English) or email unitedagainsteviction@gmail.com.

Belmont Cragin: Every other Saturday. Location and time of next meeting to be
confirmed. Call Sabrina at 773-603-2186 (English) or Bridget at 773-443-1903
(Spanish/English), or email unitedagainsteviction@gmail.com.

Logan Square: First and third Tuesdays at 6:30pm, Logan Square Library, 3030 W.
Fullerton Ave. For more information call Kim at 773-310-2225 (English), call
Virginia at 773-456-6999 (Spanish), or email unitedagainsteviction@gmail.com.
           NEXT MEETING: Tuesday, August 21

Rogers Park: First and third Wednesdays at 7pm, 7463 N. Ridge. For more
information call Jorge at 773-954-3614 (Spanish/English) or email
unitedagainsteviction@gmail.com.
           NEXT MEETING: Wednesday, August 15

Chicago Anti-Eviction Campaign

Southside: Every Thursday at 6:30pm, Ms Sis Cafe, 1401 E 75th St. For more
information, call 312-287-7228, or email antieviction@gmail.com and visit
http://www.chicagoantieviction.org
           NEXT MEETING: Thursday, August 16th