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State Representative Joe Mullery
100 Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd.
651-296-4262
For more information contact: Matt Swenson 651-297-8406
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REP. JOE MULLERY ANNOUNCES MORTGAGE FORECLOSURE ACTION PLAN
Even after passing the nation's leading policies on predatory lending and mortgage foreclosure, the housing crisis is still hitting Minnesota hard. With the housing market in serious trouble, and mortgage foreclosures on the rise, State Representative Joe Mullery (DFL – Minneapolis) is leading legislative efforts to help Minnesotans who are facing the possibility of losing their homes.
"We want to do everything possible to help people keep their homes through these challenging times," said Rep. Mullery, who represents the northside of Minneapolis. "A lot of Minnesotans are facing some tough situations right now, and they need help."
As chair of the House Public Safety and Civil Justice Committee, Rep. Mullery organized a "Foreclosures Working Group" that met throughout the interim to create legislative solutions to the ongoing housing crisis. Mullery put together an unprecedented collection of groups as divergent as ACORN, Legal Aid, neighborhood groups, local governments, professors, banks, realtors, landlords, and more. They all worked together over the course of the last several months to establish effective solutions for foreclosures in Minnesota.
"At this crucial time, when immediate action is so imperative, it was essential to get everyone around the table working together," said Mullery. "By working together we were able to hear from all sides of the issue, and establish creative solutions, and a comprehensive action plan to fight foreclosure in Minnesota."
After months of hard work, Mullery announced a mortgage foreclosure action plan today aimed at helping Minnesotans keep their homes through the housing crisis. Much of this legislation was created out of efforts led by Mullery's working groups throughout the interim. This action plan consists of the following bills carried by a bipartisan group of legislators committed to helping homeowners avoid foreclosure:
HF3428 (Gunther) Modifying right of tenant to pay utility bills;
HF3474 (Hilstrom) Relating to mortgages; redemption period; providing for notice of sale;
HF3475 (Mullery) Amending provisions relating to foreclosure;
HF3476 (Kohls) Providing for certain notices relating to foreclosure;
HF3477 (Gardner) Relating to manufactured housing; providing for regulation of lending practices and default; providing notices and remedies;
HF3478 (Peterson, N.) Modifying certain civil and criminal penalties;
HF3479 (Clark) Modifying certain district court fees;
HF3480 (Mullery) Relating to human rights; modifying filing of claim provision;
HF3516 (Davnie) Providing for certain data practices relating to foreclosure; requiring a report;
HF3517 (Davnie) Modifying expungement and withholding of rent under certain circumstances.
"Our communities are hurting badly from this housing crisis, but the Legislature can help," Mullery said. "That's why I'm doing everything I can to make sure this legislation passes this year."
Foreclosures have been particularly destructive to the Minneapolis neighborhoods Mullery represents – driving down home values, leaving boarded houses with gangs and drugs and forcing many into homelessness. That's why Joe is taking action to help people at risk of foreclosure. Since taking on this issue, Mullery has become a national leader in the fight against foreclosure. His efforts, right here in Minnesota, have been heralded as some of the most innovative and forward thinking in the country.
"My friends, neighbors, and constituents are having their homes pulled out from under them," stated Mullery. "This isn't just something I see on the six o'clock news. It's happening right next door, and down the street, and three blocks away. That's why I take this issue so seriously."
Minnesota is currently tied for fourth in the nation when it comes to the percentage of sub-prime mortgages in foreclosure. In fact, in the last year, Minnesota has seen a troubling 152 percent increase in mortgage foreclosures. With no end in sight, Rep. Mullery and other legislators are committed to helping residents keep their homes through these troubling times.
"This is a serious problem, particularly in Minneapolis, the northern suburbs, and other communities throughout the state," said Mullery. "But in some cases there are things that can be done to avoid foreclosure, so that hard-working Minnesota families don't have to lose their homes. Not every homeowner will be able to avoid falling victim to foreclosure. But we must exhaust all possible avenues to help Minnesotans keep their homes."
Mullery also cites the Home Ownership Center as an excellent resource currently available for finding help in the face of foreclosure. The HOC website, detailing foreclosure resources by county, can be found at http://www.hocmn.org/map.cfm?pageID=7. The website lists credible and effective community resources for homeowners at risk of foreclosure.
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- Passing of Dr. John Williams - (Posted: 2012-07-09 00:00:00)
- Rep. Mullery: 2012 Legislative Report - (Posted: 2012-07-10 00:00:00)
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