KWMU and Facing the Mortgage Crisis

KWMU, our St. Louis NPR station, is now partnering with us on Facing the Mortgage Crisis.  We’re excited to have them as our partner on this project–they’ve already aired a few reports about the mortgage crisis, and you can check those out by clicking HERE. 

Keep an eye (and an ear!) out for more on Facing the Mortgage Crisis from KWMU, 90.7FM.

UMSL Brown Bag Series

Last month KETC/Channel 9 attended one of the Brown Bag Series luncheons at University of Missouri – St. Louis. The topic of the luncheon was Facing the Financial Crisis: Using the Media to Address Community Issues. Thomas McPhail, Ph.D., a professor at UMSL, moderated the luncheon; the two panelists were Debbie Irwin, Foreclosure Taskforce Coordinator, and Dale Berenc, Manager of Education Services at KETC. Topics discussed included new media and the mortgage/financial crisis.

Here’s one of the clips from the luncheon.  To watch the rest, visit our YouTube channel or CLICK HERE.

Volunteering while Unemployed

Today the St. Louis Post-Dispatch published an article about the increasing number of people who are volunteering while they’re unemployed.  It’s a great way to feel good and help others, to keep your skills sharp, and to network if you’re unemployed or not getting as many hours as you’d like.  A few St. Louis residents who shared their volunteer stories were actually able to find work due to the connections they made while volunteering.

To read the full article, CLICK HERE.

Renters and the Mortgage Crisis–KWMU

Today Maria Altman of KWMU did a report on renters and foreclosure.  While owners get 20 days’ notice of a foreclosure, renters often don’t get any notice at all. 

While there’s legislation that’s trying to change this process, as of now renters are in a difficult position.  Ms. Altman gave a few suggestions for people who are afraid their landlord might be facing foreclosure–for example, contacting their county’s Recorder of Deeds to request a foreclosure notice.

To listen to the full report, CLICK HERE.

Renters and the Mortgage Crisis

Yesterday the St. Louis Post-Dispatch published an article about the effect of the mortgage crisis on renters–if a rental property is foreclosed on, even renters who pay their rent on time every month can find themselves out on the streets with little to no warning. 

The article mentioned a few bills in the House and the Senate that are trying to extend the length of time renters have in foreclosed properties, but none of the bills have been passed yet.

If you or someone you know may be in this situation–if your landlord has been foreclosed on, or you think he or she may be–call United Way’s 2-1-1 Referral Service at (800) 427-4626.  They can connect you with local, trusted resources. 

To read the full article, CLICK HERE.

The Urban League’s Spring Career Fair

On Thursday, April 23rd, the Urban League of Metropolitan St. Louis will host its annual Spring Career Fair from 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. at Harris-Stowe State University.  Over 15 employers will be there recruting for several types of jobs.  The fair is open to the public, but a resume is required.

To check out the flyer for the job fair, CLICK HERE.

Event address:
Harris-Stowe State University
Emerson Performance Center
3026 Laclede Ave.
St. Louis, MO 63103

Mortgage Scams

The St. Louis Post-Dispatch reported today that the Missouri attorney general is suing two companies they believe are involved with mortgage scams.  To read the full article, CLICK HERE.

Over the summer Ruth Ezell did a Living St. Louis segment on mortgage scams.  You can check out the video below.

Legitimate housing counseling agencies won’t contact you or send out advertisements.  Their services also shouldn’t cost anything.  You should be wary of any company that seeks you out and/or that is charging you a lot of money for housing counseling.

If you or someone you know is facing foreclosure, make sure you use a HUD-certified housing counseling agency.  To find one, call United Way’s 2-1-1 Referral Service at (800) 427-4626.

Debt Settlement Companies

Yesterday in The New York Times there was an article about debt settlement companies.  The article features one West Virginia family who used a debt settlement company to try to manage their thousands of dollars of credit card debt, only to end up with higher credit card balances than before.  The company took around $4,000 from the family, but didn’t help them manage their credit cards at all.

During these tough economic times, we need to be aware of companies saying they’ll take care of foreclosure or credit card debt.  Make sure you work with a non-profit counseling agency; for foreclosure help, the company should be HUD-certified. 

If you or someone you know needs credit counseling, call United Way’s 2-1-1 Referral Service at (800) 427-4626–they’ll help connect you with trusted resources.  You can also contact one of our partners, ClearPoint Credit Counseling Solutions, for help with credit card debt.  If you think you may have been part of a fraudulent scheme, contact the FBI.    

To read the full article from The New York Times, CLICK HERE.

A new wave of foreclosures…

NPR’s All Things Considered details a new wave of looming foreclosures. Click here to listen to the story.

For some context on how the mortgage crisis has been impacting the St. Louis region click here to visit an article from the St. Louis Post-Dispatch.

Looking for a job after college?

This article in the St. Louis Post-Dispatch details the difficulty that graduating college students are having in finding a job post-graduation. The article says that most graduates should tack on an extra three months to their job search. What does that mean for graduates who aren’t able to go home to live with their parents after school? To view the article click here.

Intern Lauren Schwarze is a senior at Wahington University in St. Louis and has been detailing her job search for us. Here’s her latest video post.