Please be advised that this post subject matter is a depressing reality and may be shocking to some. It may also not be suitable for many. It is my hope that those that are moved by it, may perhaps become more aware of those that are in it over their heads, and be moved to act.
THE SILENT MINORITY?
The consumer, the driving mandatory force of our country, is at risk now more than ever. If you are renting a property and failed to make payment, an eviction hangs over your head. If you owned a home and stopped paying the mortgage, the foreclosure monster will gobble you up. If you have credit cards and cannot make the monthly payments, they will spike your rates and collection companies will harass. If your car loan becomes a burden, then repossession looms daily...
EVERYONE HAS A STORY...BUT WILL THEY SHARE IT?
I am meeting people in all categories and it is not pretty. What can you tell someone who is going through all this? It appears that there is no lack of threats and intimidation to throw at people if you are one of these entities. But, where are the solutions that can help them?
EVERYONE WANTS THEIR MONEY FIRST
I remember 2-3 years ago, if you were trying to get a loan mod, they looked down on you if you were paying the car, the credit cards or helping your family make rent. They wanted their payment made first. When you talk with the credit card companies, they make it clear to pay something no matter what or they will cut you off and spike your rates to boot. The landlord wants his rent or eviction looms and the car loan people want their payment or the car back
JOBS
If people had jobs, then perhaps none of these problems separately would be able to topple them. But when you don't have any significant income, then these things collectively bring you down and chase you out of mainstream society but quick.
INSULT TO THE INJURIES
The insult to all the injuries described above is the credit reporting agencies that make sure for the next 7 years (or more), all your wrongs hang over you. Next stop for you is tent city. This is a place where the silent majority of people go.... who lost it all.
WHERE YA FROM?.....TENT CITY....USA
It is not just hobos, winos, or drug addicts exclusively anymore. No, it is families living out of their cars with children getting assistance wherever they can. These tent cities are similar to the ones that sprang up during the great depression in the thirties. Do you have one? We got em here
CHILDREN SUFFERING IS HARD TO STAND
The hardest part of all this is on the children of the parents who lost it all who are too embarrassed to even go to school less someone find out that they are poor and destitute. Here in Riverside, Ca, they have shelter and food banks that assist, but the stigma and the sting plus the damage done to the morale is quite another story....
Please keep an eye open for those that for whatever reason, lost their way....
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9 Comments on HARD CHOICES FOR RENTERS, BORROWERS, AND DEBTORS...woe unto them
I love your banner / slogan. We do need to put people first. God knows my industry didn't.
"If you are out to describe the truth, leave elegance to the tailor." Albert Einstein
Nice post, Richie....and very true.....I come from very "humble" beginnings, a lot of difficult times, money worries and we were a family of seven. I treat everyone with dignity and respect, no matter what their circumstances. The majority of the people in these situations do not want to be there. The few that are trying to "milk" it shouldn't cause bad feelings towards everyone else. Our mantra should be "there but for the grace of God go I".
Matt...you move me by your comments...thank you. My banner was earned and it reminds me every time that I look at it of the time it didn't exist....I am making up for that lost time Matt...thank you
Hello MaryJane of the Van Dyk Group....I am moved again by comments and I am grateful that I am. At what point did we find solace in saying or believing that we are glad that it isn't us? I remember when things were so tough (many years ago) and I was looking for a job to feed my family, I used to think of my potential employers...I wonder if they know how bad I need this job and then I would think if they really knew, would they hire a needy person? This is not living, but existing..Oh, may I nver forget this..thank you
We cannot allow ourselves to become hardened by the media reporting of the cheats and chiselers. They are 1 in 100, or maybe even 1 in 1000 these days. The other 99 or 999 need our help, in any way we can give it.
I'm showing a lot of foreclosed properties these days, and finding one with childrens toys left behind is always a reminder of the effect on the whole family.
Hello again Fred....whoa...children's toys are a very powerful statement to make....I did evictions for years and when kids were involved, I got sick inside and made many allowances without jeopardizing the principals. I went right to the edge and sometimes it is not a pretty sight...Let us remember less we all forget....
Matt, it's not about finding solace or being glad that it's not us, it's about remembering that it COULD easily have been us so we need to treat everyone with dignity and respect just as we would want to be treated in the same situation. So important!
MaryJane has a very good point....thank you for emphasizing this. It is a good use of our time spent with each other...well done young lady
"young" lady...Richie, you made my day ( :
You made your day....I just assisted...