Events

More than 2.4 million Americans are expected to lose their homes to a foreclosure this year, with the number of new Bay Area foreclosure filings rising dramatically over the summer. The fallout from the subprime lending scandal is continuing, but there is help. 

In the midst of our housing foreclosure crisis, New America Media (NAM), U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), and Housing and Economic Rights Advocates (HERA) are sponsoring “Your Home, Your Rights,” a community forum and call to action offering detailed information on what residents need to know about home ownership and renter’s rights. 

“Your Home, Your Rights” takes place Saturday September 11 from 8:30 am – 12:00 noon at First Congregational Church of Oakland, 2501 Harrison Street (at 27th Street) in Oakland. 

Services will include confidential one-on-one legal advice and counseling on foreclosure, fair housing and predatory lending issues (including advice to tenants in buildings that have been foreclosed on), as well as helping low- and moderate-income victims of predatory lending and foreclosure related abuses find legal representation. 

Attendees can share stories with journalists and the media about the foreclosure crisis and get answers to their questions from housing counselors, tax experts and the Office of the Alameda County District Attorney (in charge of investigating predatory loans). Also scheduled is a selection of informational seminars about surviving the crisis. 

Excerpts from Leslie Cockburn’s documentary movie “American Casino,” a powerful and shocking look at the subprime lending scandal, will be screened. 

Admission to “Your Home, Your Rights” is free, and food and refreshments will be provided at no-cost. Translation services will be provided in Spanish and available in Vietnamese. 

To RSVP please call 800-871-9012 ext. 29248. For more information, please contact Suzanne Manneh/New America Media at smanneh@newamericamedia.org or 415-503-4170. 

Schedule of Events for “Your Home, Your Rights”: 

8:30 – 9:00 am Sign in for counseling. Continental breakfast is available.  

9:00 – 12:00 pm Private one-on-one counseling. Also information tables with related services.  

9:00 – 11:00 am Seminars including Why isn't my lender helping me? Is bankruptcy going  

to help me?, and Telling the difference between trustworthy and un- 

trustworthy service providers. 

11:00 – 12:00 pm East Bay residents share their stories and experiences about fighting to keep their homes or finding affordable housing to journalists and HUD officials.