América do Norte

Domestic Violence, Housing, and a Human Rights Win for U.S. Women

March 8 is International Women’s Day, and it’s especially timely for us in the U.S. this year. The recent enactment of legislation reauthorizing and strengthening the Violence Against Women Act is a landmark event for women, and especially low-income women, in the U.S.

United States of America statement on the security of tenure report

Read United States’ statement regarding the presentation given by the Special Rapporteur about her thematic and mission reports on March 4th, during the 22nd session of the Human Rights Council.

Homes in foreclosure process decline in January

The number of homes mired in the foreclosure process fell again last month, according to a new report, the 15th consecutive month of year-over-year declines. Irvine-based CoreLogic said Thursday that roughly 1.2 million homes nationwide, or 2.9% of all homes with a mortgage, were in some stage of foreclosure in January. That’s a 3.3% drop from December and a 21% decline from January 2012.

Banks make progress on mortgage settlement

A year has passed since state and federal authorities reached a $25 billion settlement with five of the nation’s largest banks over fraudulent foreclosure practices that were commonplace after the housing bust.
On Thursday, the court-appointed monitor of the settlement issued a report showing that more than half a million homeowners have received about $46 billion worth of loan modifications, short sales, refinancings and forbearance. The activity spans from March through December and was self-reported by the banks involved in the agreement: Wells Fargo, Bank of America, JPMorgan Chase, Ally Financial and Citigroup.

What Mortgage Relief?

A year ago, when the nation’s biggest banks settled with state and federal officials over claims of foreclosure abuses, the public was led to believe that the deal would allow millions of hard-pressed borrowers to escape the threat of foreclosure. It still hasn’t happened.

Routed by Katrina, Stuck in Quagmire of Rules

As people in the Northeast set off on the road back from Hurricane Sandy, there are those here who are keen to offer warnings that recovery can be far more difficult than they imagine. Mr. Joseph sees his own story as a cautionary tale, though he admits he is unsure what he would have, or should have, done differently.

Despite Aid, Borrowers Still Face Foreclosure in the US

A year after five of the nation’s biggest banks reached a pact with state and federal officials over claims of vast foreclosure abuses, the banks are taking credit for giving more than half a million struggling homeowners roughly $45.8 billion in relief.
But despite the banner numbers released on Thursday in a report by Joseph A. Smith, the independent overseer of the settlement, thousands of homeowners are still not getting the help they need to save their homes from foreclosure, according to interviews with housing advocates and homeowners facing foreclosure.

In NY, Hoboken Mayor Seeks Storm Protection More Suitable for High-Rise Buildings

Places long accustomed to the routine beatings of hurricanes have shaped this country’s traditional response to them: evacuate during the storm, then elevate the buildings or retreat inland to protect against the next onslaught.

A Time to Fight

Faced with the foreclosure of her home, Detroit resident LaKeisha Tuggle devised creative solutions to weather economic hardship. Click here to watch.

Recovery Remains Spotty 3 Months After Hurricane in the US

Hurricane Sandy slammed into New York and New Jersey nearly three months ago, and the grueling recovery effort continues with work being done to repair, rebuild and reopen shattered homes and businesses. But the process has been uneven, and there is ample evidence that many people are still struggling in the aftermath of one of the most vicious storms to hit the region. Following are snapshots of how some people and places are faring on the road back.