CITY OF DETROIT AND/OR WAYNE COUNTY MUST EXERCISE RIGHT OF FIRST REFUSAL TO STOP EVICTIONS AND STOP MORE DETROITERS FROM UNNECESSARILY LOSING HOMES

MORATORIUM NOW! COALITION

5920 SECOND AVENUE, DETROIT, MI 48201

313-319-0870 – http://moratorium-mi.org/

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE, September 19, 2017

CONTACT:  313-319-0870

1,915 DETROIT RESIDENTS TO LOSE THEIR HOMES DUE TO OCCUPIED TAX FORECLOSURE/AUCTION IN NEXT MONTH

HARDEST HIT FUNDS AVAILABLE TO AVOID THIS CATASTROPHE AND PAY DELINQUENT TAX FORECLOSURE BILLS

In a press statement issued today, Wayne County Treasurer and Mayor Mike Duggan confirmed that 1,915 Detroit families are slated to lose their homes this October as a result of the auction of tax foreclosed homes.

These evictions are entirely preventable.  Pursuant to Michigan law, MCL 211.68m, Wayne County and/or the City of Detroit can prevent these evictions by exercising their right of first refusal to pull these homes out of the auction.

In an August 29 meeting, between the Michigan State Housing Development Authority (administrators of the Federal Hardest Hit fund) and representatives of the Coalition to Stop Unconstitutional Tax Foreclosures, MSHDA committed to submitting a request to the federal Treasury, to amend regulations for use of the federal Hardest Hit funds to allow their use to pay off the delinquent property tax bills on the homes pulled out of the auction by the City of Detroit and/or Wayne County.  MSHDA confirmed that there are $90 million in unspent Hardest Hit funds that would easily cover the approximately $8 million tax delinquencies of the 8,000 occupied tax foreclosed homes.  This would actually put money in the Wayne County and City treasuries, as tax foreclosed homes often sell at a fraction of the delinquent tax bills at auction.

Rather than bragging about “only” 1,915 families being tossed in the streets, Mayor Duggan and Treasure Sabree should take action to prevent this catastrophe.  Exercise the right of refusal to pull these homes out of the auction!  Join with us in insuring the federal Hardest Hit funds are used for their intended purpose, keeping families in their homes and preserving our communities! http://moratorium-mi.org/

Memo to MSHDA Jerome Goldberg September 18 2017