Catholic
Charities Brooklyn and Queens and Community Leaders Convened to
Address the Mortgage Crisis
March
3, 2008-- Bishop Nicholas DiMarzio and Catholic Charities
Brooklyn and Queens, together with Assemblyman Vito Lopez and
St. John’s University, sponsored “The Mortgage Crisis:
Impact on Individuals, Families and Communities,” a forum
held at St. John’s University on February 29th. Community
leaders, advocates, financial counselors and lenders gathered
to discuss the current state of defaults and foreclosures of homes
throughout Brooklyn and Queens.
Sr. Margaret
John Kelly, DC, Executive Director of the Vincentian Center for
Church and Society at St. John’s University, indicated that
the goals of the forum were to identify key complex issues and
share expertise, build networks linking the public and private
sectors, and to identify short-term and long-term strategies.
In opening,
Bishop DiMarzio pointed out the harsh reality that of the 14,000
foreclosures in New York City, 10,000 are in Brooklyn and Queens.
He emphasized the need “to go to the heart of the matter,”
and stated, “We are in a crisis. Many people are facing
homelessness, and that is something we just don’t stand
by and do nothing about.”
The panelists
addressed two key topics: “The Scope of the Crisis”
and “Helping Homeowners in Crisis.” Deyanira Del Rio,
Associate Director, Neighborhood Economic Development Advocacy
Project (NEDAP) explained, “When someone is facing foreclosure
they are also having trouble keeping their lights on and being
able to feed their family. Mental health issues are also involved.
We hear from a lot of individuals that they have contemplated
suicide, are panic stricken, or end up in the hospital from the
physical and mental stress.” Del Rio also told the story
of one affected homeowner, who, at the workshop at St. Fortunata
Church, shared that she needed help feeding her family and paying
small bills and “through Catholic Charities she received
help and was able to use their food bank and other services that
she really needed.”
Participants
also gathered into small groups to discuss “Future Strategies
for Action.” Among some of the recommendations given for
short-term and long-term strategies were: expanding fiscal counseling;
addressing stigma, shame and mental health issues of those affected
by the mortgage crisis; expanding rent subsidies for those in
foreclosure; creating partnerships with the banking industry for
fiscal literacy in our communities; and building more affordable
housing.
In closing,
Rev. Msgr. Alfred LoPinto, Vicar for Human Services, said: “We
all realize that this is not an easy situation to resolve. It
is going to take a tremendous effort. It is not just about a family
that maybe got lured into something that was unmanageable—it
is a much larger financial crisis affecting so many different
levels of society.”
Educational
workshops for community members began February, 24th, and will
end June 10th. Anyone can participate. For a list of these workshops
throughout Brooklyn and Queens,
click here.
###
Related:
Catholic
Charities Brooklyn and Queens Addresses the Mortgage Crisis
(Feb. 20, 2008)
