It was open to anyone in danger of losing their homes due to foreclosure or eviction.
A workshop to stop bank foreclosures and end evictions was held on Saturday in Frederick. It was sponsored by Occupy Frederick. Lawyers and other experts were on hand to offer advice and answer questions for citizens who are in danger of losing their homes.
It was held at the Friends' Meeting House at 723 North Market Street from 9:00 AM until 7:00 PM. It was originally scheduled for the Hillcrest Community Center, but the location was changed.
A banner was hung up in the room where the event took place reading "Housing Is A Human Right." One of the organizers, Watu Mwariama, said having a place to live shouldn't be based on how much money you have. "We want people to understand that housing is a fundamental human right," Mwariama says.
A large number of Americans have lost their homes due to foreclosure since the collapse of the housing market in 2008. If that's you, Mwariama says it's not your fault. "Seek help, and don't feel that there's flaw in your character and you did something wrong," he says. "We understand there was a predatory system set up with the help of the government that has taken advantage of a lot of people."
You can start getting that help by calling the Occupy Foreclosure Working Group at 240-285-9520. Mwariama says anyone there can steer you to the resources available in the community which can help you. You can also send an e-mail to OccupyOurHomesFrederick@gmail.com.
And, he says, don't fall for schemes that sound too good to be true. "There's a lot of scams going on. So don't fall prey to scams where people tell you, you get a letter or a phone call, saying 'I can guarantee to stop your foreclosure.' Don't fall for that," he says. "Unfortunately, people are trying to make profit off of other peoples' misery."
For those who couldn't make it to Saturday's workshop, Mwariama says another is being planned for late April.
