Thursday, February 18, 2010

Families suffer after foreclosures


Foreclosures threaten to break apart Latino families, creating depression, tension and stress, according to a new report from the National Council of La Raza.

The group, together with The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill’s Center for Community Capital, this week released the report, “The Foreclosure Generation: The Long-Term Impact of the Housing Crisis on Latino Children and Families.”

The report follows 25 families who had to leave their homes because of foreclosure. NCLR president Janet MurguĂ­a said about 1.3 million Latino families will lose their homes between 2009 and 2012.

Not surprisingly, parents, spouses and children reported feeling the weight of the burden. Many of the students had behavioral problems, and families reported siblings not getting along.

Also, families reported feelings like depression, anxiety, tension, guilt and resentment.

Only one family had savings to use in case of a financial emergency, according to the report, and others were skimping on medical care to get by.

In related news, the Associated Press reports that suburban homelessness is straining shelters around the country. A Guatemalan living in a shelter in Long Island is one example.

Sources: National Mortgage Professional, NCLR

Photo: AP via Thegrio.com

No comments: