Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner has introduced a $500 billion plan to buy up troubled assets but homeowners facing foreclosure have yet to receive their own bailout. Across the country, lenders practicing financial entrapment exploited buyers in order to make larger profits on subprime mortgages. These resulted in entire communities enveloped in the subsequent housing crisis. In Pacoima, CA, the community believed the first bailout would ease the housing situation but banks used the money to dole out bonuses. In response to the dire situation, residents organized to politically pressure lenders to reach a compromise.

Brave New Foundation invites anyone affected by the crisis to share their stories at http://fightingforourhomes.com/ to document the impact of the situation in our communities.

—Gabriela Resto-Montero

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