Owning a home is the American dream. Losing a home, especially to foreclosure when something could have been done to stop it, is the American nightmare.
That nightmare situation is what Wayne County Treasurer Eric R. Sabree is working with his staff and county officials to prevent. Throughout January and into the rest of the year, Sabree hope to reduce or eliminate foreclosures in 2017 by expanding efforts to meet with homeowners who have received foreclosure notices.
“It’s a community effort, countywide, to really make foreclosures go away,” Sabree said, noting that the county is working with Mayor Mike Duggan and others to find long-term solutions, such as better-paying jobs, accurate property taxes and more.
In January, the Treasurer’s office will hold what are known as show-cause hearings for people who have received a “yellow bag” formal notice of intent to foreclose on properties in Wayne County. Those who have received a notice are encouraged to attend the hearings, if necessary or to contact the Treasurer’s office to discuss their situation.
“By law, these hearings are called ‘show-cause’ hearings,” Sabree said. “This office would prefer to use the hearings as an opportunity to educate taxpayers on options available through my office to possibly prevent foreclosures and help people stay in their homes. Truly, the last thing we want to do is foreclose on a home.”
Sabree added that anyone who is concerned about foreclosure does not need to wait for the show cause hearings. Homeowners can contact the Treasurer’s office during regular business hours for personalized attention to their case.
If a taxpayer has received a show cause notice but is enrolled in a payment plan and has missed two or less payments, is current on their taxes, and will have their 2016 taxes paid by March 1, 2017, they do not have to attend.
For all others notified, they should plan to attend the show cause hearing on the date and time provided in their notice.
The next Wayne County Treasurer’s office hearings will be Jan. 24 and 25 at 400 Monroe on the 8th floor. The meetings will walk taxpayers through foreclosure prevention options. They will also have a host of public-private alliance organizations on hand to provide free financial counseling, assistance with energy bills, home financing and related services.
For more information please call 313-224-5990 or send an email to info@waynecounty.com.
“We truly want to give people options,” said Sabree, who noted that residents should receive notice not only from his office but that of their local mayors and representatives in the region’s all-out effort to prevent foreclosure. “The more communication, the better.”
The treasurer also said his office will go out to the four Wayne County Community College campuses to try to reach people who cannot attend hearings during the week. These weekend hearings will accept payments and have an outreach for more information on foreclosure. They will be held every Saturday through February, Sabree said.
Photo by Michelle & Chris Gerard. Republished with permission.
Wayne County Treasurer holds hearings to prevent foreclosures in 2017 added by Karen Dybis on
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