Foreclosure
Homeowners Fight Back
Homeowners Nancie Koerber and Mark Thomas founded the Southern Oregon Homeowner Support Group in March of 2009 "to find solutions to the Foreclosure disaster." As other homeowners facing foreclosure joined Koerber and Thomas organized their support group into a non-profit, and in August, 2010 rechristened it Good Grief America.
Although the initial purpose was to provide "moral support to families" facing foreclosure, participating homeowners ultimately began looking for ways to fight back and keep their homes. What we found to be true was not what any of the members wanted to find. As such, Good Grief America’s emphasis focuses "on education, research and support for homeowners, attorneys and civic leaders." Although they do not "give legal or tax advice," they "will help homeowners find resources that fit their family needs."
Good Grief America claims to have "trained over 300 families as of October 2010." They have a "network" of eight "attorney teams" throughout Oregon, and have formed coalitions with Rural Organizing Project, Oregon Action, grange halls, labor unions and political leaders.[1] The organization lists the following as its "current results":
- Eight foreclosures delayed long-term.
- Fourteen in long-term limbo.
- Four foreclosures either overturned or in the process of being overturned.
- Six delayed by bankruptcy.