WIN Action Organizing Project
WIN Action Organizing Project - Who We Are
The WIN Action Organizing Project (WINAOP) is a grassroots organization, run by community leaders, pastors and seniors to give residents a voice on issues that affect Southwest Ohio. WINAOP members come together as a group to make a difference, taking action to achieve results.
"Learn how to become a leader- Be a part of the process for change"
WINAOP members receive expertise and training from staff and learn through shared experience with other members. WINAOP keeps members informed about important news pertinent to our work and provides a support system to keep people hopeful and empowered. WINAOP members get training in skills such as leadership development and strategy to get their voices heard by people with power and achieve real success. WINAOP members believe in the power of organized people power and share their victories together.
WINAOP is an affiliate of National People's Action a network of metropolitan, regional and statewide organizations that build grassroots power to advance racial and economic justice.
"Learn how to become a leader- Be a part of the process for change"
WINAOP members receive expertise and training from staff and learn through shared experience with other members. WINAOP keeps members informed about important news pertinent to our work and provides a support system to keep people hopeful and empowered. WINAOP members get training in skills such as leadership development and strategy to get their voices heard by people with power and achieve real success. WINAOP members believe in the power of organized people power and share their victories together.
WINAOP is an affiliate of National People's Action a network of metropolitan, regional and statewide organizations that build grassroots power to advance racial and economic justice.
The City of Cincinnati passes ordinance to hold Banks accountable for Foreclosed Properties
Cincinnati City Council passed an ordinance that will hold lenders responsible for maintaining foreclosed properties. The problem, advocates say, is owners of foreclosed homes are being cited for deteriorating conditions, even though they no longer control the properties.
Roger Davis, Co-Chair of Citizens Against Loan Sharks, testified about the need to hold banks accountable. Mae Richardson, a member of Citizens Against Loan Sharks and Communities United For Action talked about her experience after she lost her home through foreclosure.
Chase foreclosed on her home, yet they did not put the house in the bank's name. Ms. Richardson said that she is now getting letters from the City telling her to fix up the house even though she was told that she no longer owned the property. She is also getting water bills and property tax bills.
"This is the bank's mess, not mine," said Ms. Richardson. Chase Bank is the one who should be held accountable."
Vice Mayor Roxanne Qualls introduced the ordinance. She says people who have lost their homes shouldn’t face fines or even jail time because a lender isn’t taking care of a property.
The group Working in Neighborhoods reports there were 1,151 completed foreclosures in the city last year.
Roger Davis, Co-Chair of Citizens Against Loan Sharks, testified about the need to hold banks accountable. Mae Richardson, a member of Citizens Against Loan Sharks and Communities United For Action talked about her experience after she lost her home through foreclosure.
Chase foreclosed on her home, yet they did not put the house in the bank's name. Ms. Richardson said that she is now getting letters from the City telling her to fix up the house even though she was told that she no longer owned the property. She is also getting water bills and property tax bills.
"This is the bank's mess, not mine," said Ms. Richardson. Chase Bank is the one who should be held accountable."
Vice Mayor Roxanne Qualls introduced the ordinance. She says people who have lost their homes shouldn’t face fines or even jail time because a lender isn’t taking care of a property.
The group Working in Neighborhoods reports there were 1,151 completed foreclosures in the city last year.
Citizens Against Loan Sharks (WINAOP) & Communities United For Action Announce Campaign To Grade The Banks
Citizens Against Loan Sharks (a committee of WINAOP) and Communities United For Action have demanded that the Big Banks fix their mess and announced their campaign to grade the banks on November 18th, 2010, 2 p.m. at 6507 Glen in Kennedy Heights. The owner of this house went through the foreclosure process but the bank never took possession.
Fix Your Mess is the message that community leaders from Communities United For Action (CUFA) & Citizens Against Loan Sharks (CALS) sent to Bank of America, Wells Fargo, Citbank and Chase.
Fed up with rising foreclosures, funding of payday lenders, lack of loans for our neighborhoods, and their unchecked greed costing us eight million jobs and five million homes, CUFA and CALS are saying that it is the people’s time to grade the banks.
“The banks are failing us and our economy,” said Marilyn Evans, Executive Director of CUFA. “
“The regulators always give the banks an outstanding rating even though they are failing our neighborhoods,” Roger Davis, President of Communities United For Action. “We feel that it’s time for the people to grade the banks.”
The Mae Richardson, a member of Citizens Against Loan Sharks talked about the emotional and financial stress of losing her home yet still receiving bills and building code violations for the house because her lender, Chase, did not take possession of the house.
“This was my father’s house and I tried to work with Chase to keep it out of foreclosure,” said Ms. Richardson. “I was told that this house no longer belongs to me but the property was never transferred at the Court House. Now I am getting letters from the City telling me to fix it up and I am getting property tax and water bills. This is the bank’s mess, not my mess.”
http://www.thecincinnatiherald.com/news/2010-12-4/News/CUFA_to_grade_banks.html
http://www.wvxu.org/news/wvxunews_article.asp?ID=8318
http://www.wcpo.com/dpp/money/real_estate_news/groups-tell-banks%3A-fix-your-mess
Fix Your Mess is the message that community leaders from Communities United For Action (CUFA) & Citizens Against Loan Sharks (CALS) sent to Bank of America, Wells Fargo, Citbank and Chase.
Fed up with rising foreclosures, funding of payday lenders, lack of loans for our neighborhoods, and their unchecked greed costing us eight million jobs and five million homes, CUFA and CALS are saying that it is the people’s time to grade the banks.
“The banks are failing us and our economy,” said Marilyn Evans, Executive Director of CUFA. “
“The regulators always give the banks an outstanding rating even though they are failing our neighborhoods,” Roger Davis, President of Communities United For Action. “We feel that it’s time for the people to grade the banks.”
The Mae Richardson, a member of Citizens Against Loan Sharks talked about the emotional and financial stress of losing her home yet still receiving bills and building code violations for the house because her lender, Chase, did not take possession of the house.
“This was my father’s house and I tried to work with Chase to keep it out of foreclosure,” said Ms. Richardson. “I was told that this house no longer belongs to me but the property was never transferred at the Court House. Now I am getting letters from the City telling me to fix it up and I am getting property tax and water bills. This is the bank’s mess, not my mess.”
http://www.thecincinnatiherald.com/news/2010-12-4/News/CUFA_to_grade_banks.html
http://www.wvxu.org/news/wvxunews_article.asp?ID=8318
http://www.wcpo.com/dpp/money/real_estate_news/groups-tell-banks%3A-fix-your-mess
WIN Action Organizing Project Signs Support Letter for Financial Reform Bill
WINAOP was included with a long list of other national, state-wide, and local groups, including unions and community organizations, that sent a letter to Representatvie Barney Frank in support of the financial reform bill. The provision we asked for regarding helping unemployed homeowners was included in the bill. This signals a success towards the consumer protection we are seeking.
Click the file below to read the letter.
Click the file below to read the letter.
| financial_reform_support_letter.pdf |
WINAOP Member's Story Shared In Reuter's Article
eborah Coleman, active WINAOP leader, shared her story in an article about struggling with unemployment - especially after unemployment benefits run out. Click here for the article.
Over 150 People Attend WINAOP's Public Meeting with the Treasury Department About Saving Homes From Foreclosure!
Sara Apsel, Special Assistant from the U.S. Treasury Department, visited Cincinnati to discuss the federal loan modification program (Home Affordable Modification Program or HAMP) on Tuesday June 15th at St. Clare Church in College Hill. Over 150 people came out to share their concerns and experiences with working to get loan modifications with the U.S. Treasury.
Also in attendence to hear people's issues included Ruth Clevenger from the Federal Reserve Bank of Cleveland, Jim Cunningham from HUD, Susan Choe from the Consumer Protection Section of the Ohio Attorney General's Office, Donna Sheline from Chase Bank, Cindy Flaherty from the Ohio Housing Finance Agency, Ohio State Senator Eric Kearney, State Representative Denise Driehaus, Cincinnati City Council Member Cecil Thomas, and a representative from U.S. Representative Steve Driehaus's office.
People had a chance to ask questions and share their experiences, both good and bad, working to obtain a federal loan modification. Our requests of the Treasury Department included:
-Obligate mortgage servicers to stop all foreclosure action while borrowers are evaluated for HAMP modifications.
-Require servicers to make sure trial modifications are converted to permanent modifications as long as the borrower makes payments.
-Ensure that payments made during the trial modification are applied towards the permanent modification.
-Require servicers to offer 9 months of a forbearance plan for the unemployed with review every 3 months.
-Require all servicers to do principle reductions and not balloon payments.
-Require that servicers provide a clear explanation when there is a denial and a person and number within the company that the borrower can call to review the decision.
-Provide an independent appeals process.
-Require that servicers establish a single point of contact for the homeowners.
-Increase transparency and accountability from the servicers and investors so that we can get the NPV (net present value) calculations.
Ms. Apsel responded to these points with the viewpoint of the U.S. Treasury Department. She also answered questions from the floor. The meeting was very informative, both for the attendees and the speakers. We hope to continue a partnership with the U.S. Treasury Department to continue to make improvements to HAMP.
Check out pictures on facebook - become a fan!
See press coverage of the event here.
Check out the story WLWT did as a follow-up on Theresa Davis, who shared her story of struggling to save her home from foreclosure.
Also in attendence to hear people's issues included Ruth Clevenger from the Federal Reserve Bank of Cleveland, Jim Cunningham from HUD, Susan Choe from the Consumer Protection Section of the Ohio Attorney General's Office, Donna Sheline from Chase Bank, Cindy Flaherty from the Ohio Housing Finance Agency, Ohio State Senator Eric Kearney, State Representative Denise Driehaus, Cincinnati City Council Member Cecil Thomas, and a representative from U.S. Representative Steve Driehaus's office.
People had a chance to ask questions and share their experiences, both good and bad, working to obtain a federal loan modification. Our requests of the Treasury Department included:
-Obligate mortgage servicers to stop all foreclosure action while borrowers are evaluated for HAMP modifications.
-Require servicers to make sure trial modifications are converted to permanent modifications as long as the borrower makes payments.
-Ensure that payments made during the trial modification are applied towards the permanent modification.
-Require servicers to offer 9 months of a forbearance plan for the unemployed with review every 3 months.
-Require all servicers to do principle reductions and not balloon payments.
-Require that servicers provide a clear explanation when there is a denial and a person and number within the company that the borrower can call to review the decision.
-Provide an independent appeals process.
-Require that servicers establish a single point of contact for the homeowners.
-Increase transparency and accountability from the servicers and investors so that we can get the NPV (net present value) calculations.
Ms. Apsel responded to these points with the viewpoint of the U.S. Treasury Department. She also answered questions from the floor. The meeting was very informative, both for the attendees and the speakers. We hope to continue a partnership with the U.S. Treasury Department to continue to make improvements to HAMP.
Check out pictures on facebook - become a fan!
See press coverage of the event here.
Check out the story WLWT did as a follow-up on Theresa Davis, who shared her story of struggling to save her home from foreclosure.
Annual Foreclosure Reports Shows Foreclosure Trends, both Good and Bad, in Hamilton County
The WIN Action Organizing Project partnered with Working in Neighborhoods to release the 2009 data on foreclosures in Hamilton County. "The Failing Economy - The Continued Crisis Next Door" can be found on Working In Neighborhoods website.
