Filner Blames Banks For Military Foreclosures - San Diego News Story - KGTV San Diego.rm

Filner Blames Banks For Military Foreclosures
Rep. Bob Filner Says Banks Not Helping Military Families Facing Foreclosure


SAN DIEGO -- Local Rep. Bob Filner lashed out at banking institutions Tuesday and said lenders should be more lenient with members of the military who are facing foreclosure.

"I'm calling it a foreclosure tsunami because it's hitting far more people," said Filner.

Filner said that tsunami is devastating thousands of troops and their families.
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"Those who are fighting in Afghanistan or on assignment in Iraq are facing foreclosure now," added Filner.

"I called the banks on numerous occasions and explained our hardship and they said due to investor guidelines they couldn't do anything for us," said Gabriella Stumetz.

Stumetz, whose husband is serving overseas, is already juggling a job, duties as a mother and is caring for her disabled brother who was injured during combat. Now, she's battling her lender.

"They freeze your accounts where you're not even able to pay for your gas or living expenses. It's very, very difficult," she said.

Filner, who is chairman of the House Committee on Veterans' Affairs, blames "the banks, who we gave $700 million, $800 million to stop these foreclosures."

Filner said he is authoring a bill he will introduce to Congress next week, and it will include a one-year foreclosure moratorium for service members returning from active duty. The bill will also include a measure that will allow disabled veterans to use just 25 percent of their income to pay for their mortgages, with the state subsidizing the difference.

"We say we support our troops, but how do we let them be foreclosed on? This is a disgrace," said Filner. In the meantime, Faith Bautista with the counseling agency Mabuhay Alliance is helping families like Stumetz's.

"Military, not military, it's computer-generated where if you don't pay 3 to 6 months you get a notice immediately," said Bautista. Filner said his bill has the support of House democrats but admitted getting Republicans to support it will be a challenge.

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