Amazing Video Recap Of Mark Harris Week Of Action!

Check it out and share far and wide! Special Thanks to Rob Call with Occupy Our Homes Atlanta for making this short, and of course everyone who participated in all of the actions this week!


Sign the petition to keep Mark in his home!

Desert Storm Veteran Takes His Fight To Fannie Mae Executive's Home

The Past Wednesday Desert Storm veteran Mark Harris held a Candle light vigil and prayer service at the home of Catherine "Candy" Lasher, the regional director of Fannie Mae. Candy can decide whether or not to throw Mark Harris out of his home.

 Around twenty people Joined Mark for the somber event. After canvassing Candy Lasher's neighborhood to make sure everyone knew why we were there and that there was no need for folks to be afraid, Pastor David Rice led the group in prayer not only for Mark Harris but the millions of people struggling with a housing issue.

We had a candlelighting ceremony in which everyone in attendance shared their hopes, dreams, and concerns.

For me personally the issue of national security was on my mind this evening. I belief in national security, I think It should be our top priority as a national community.


A nation that is truly secure would see all of it's residents with a place to call home, food to eat, and a decent paying job. The sad irony in that we have all the resources to make the dream a reality. Our economic crisis has never been about resources, there's is and always has been enough to go around. Our crisis is about economic priority.

If we continue to believe that developing enough weapons to bomb the world a dozen times over and recruiting young people to go bomb other poor countries somehow makes us more secure, then we will continue to live in economic insecurity while those that profit from our manufactured fears make record profits.


Mark Harris and millions of others are in crisis, and we need to start seeing corporate greed and a historic military budget for what they are; robberies from our communities and real threats to real human security.

One simply place to start prioritizing  national security is for President Obama to do what he has said he would do on the election trail and fire FHFA director Ed Demarco. Demarco could single handidly bring relief in the form of the greatest people's bailout in my generation with mortgage principle reduction. Demarco has widespread support for this measure but has refused to move forward claiming that it's would be morally wrong to relieve people like Mark Harris of their dept.

It's time to let go backwards thinkers like Ed Demarco and appoint someone who has the courage and compassion to take our communities out of the hostage situation they've been in for years.

Sign Mark's online petition

Come support Mark in Atlanta Friday 4/12



Tim Franzen
American Friends Service Committe

Fannie Mae Celebrates Veterans Day By Evicting Disabled Combat Veteran

Veterans Day is an official United States holiday honoring armed service veterans. It’s a federal holiday that is observed on November 11th. It coincides with other holidays such as Armistice Day or Remembrance Day, which are celebrated in other parts of the world and also mark the anniversary of the signing of the Armistice that ended World War I. (Major hostilities of World War I were formally ended at the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month of 1918 with the German signing of the Armistice.)

U.S. President Woodrow Wilson first proclaimed Armistice Day for November 11, 1919. In proclaiming the holiday, he said,

"To us in America, the reflections of Armistice Day will be filled with solemn pride in the heroism of those who died in the country's service and with gratitude for the victory, both because of the thing from which it has freed us and because of the opportunity it has given America to show her sympathy with peace and justice in the councils of the nations."

Of course over the years Veterans day has become a day to honor all who served in the military, a day to acknowledge the sacrifice their service represents. We’re all used to seeing Banks, politicians, and corporation give lip service veterans day by having shopping sales, thanking veterans on a tv commercial, or hanging sweatshop made flag in their place of business.

Are the institutions of power truly grateful for veterans and their service to the country?

Of course they are. 60% of the federal discretionary budget goes to the military industrial complex in one way or another. The products of war are big business, which means big profits. From oil, to reconstruction, weapons development, minerals, even boots and coffins mean money in the bank.

What are institutions of power doing to honor those recruited to fight the wars that line their deep pockets?

Not much. Veterans are always more likely to be unemployed then the average American. They are less likely to have a four year degree. 1/3 of all homeless people are veterans, many of them combat veterans. The housing crisis has hit veterans hard.

Right now we are especially disturbed by Fannie Mae’s attempt to take disabled Desert Storm Veteran Mark Harris home. Fannie Mae is 80% tax payer owned, and Mark has been struggling to work with Fannie Mae to strike a deal that keeps him from becoming another homeless combat veteran.

So far it seems like Fannie Mae plans to celebrate Veteran’s Day by moving forward with the eviction of Mark Harris.

Will you celebrate Veterans Day with us by supporting Mark’s struggle to keep a roof over his head?

There are three things you can do this week to help Mark.

1.      Sign and share his online petition: http://start2.occupyourhomes.org/petitions/disable-desert-storm-veteran-needs-help-to-save-his-home

2.      Call/Email Fannie Mae and tell them to work with Mark to keep him in the home: Catherine "Candy" Lasher at 404-398-6901, catherine_lasher@fanniemae.com and call and/or Andrew Wilson at 202-752-5168,Andrew_j_wilson@fanniemae.com . Demand that they halt the eviction of Disabled Desert Storm veteran Mark Harris at 1164 Dunwick Drive, Avondale Estates, Georgia.

3.      Take action with us this Wednesday! Join us at Fannie Mae’s SE Regional office,  950 E Paces Ferry Rd NE Wednesday 11/14 at 3:30pmFacebook event: http://www.facebook.com/events/136771526470261/

200 People March on Fannie Mae’s Southeastern Hub Demanding An End To Abusive Housing Practices

ATLANTA -- Today, September 10, 2012 at 11:00am, Occupy Our Homes Atlanta, American Friends Service Committee, along with people from all over the Southeast marched on Fannie Mae's regional headquarters in the heart of Atlanta’s most affluent real estate; Buckhead.

                        Today’s Southeastern action launched a national campaign aimed at highlighting and addressing the inhumane practices of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. People from Athens, Chattanooga, Miami, Orlando and Nashville joined Occupy Our Homes ATL organizers in holding Fannie and Freddie accountable for their abuse of our system and demand change.

                        Many underwater homeowners who Freddie and Fannie refuse to work with were present and demanded a meeting with Catherine Lasher of Fannie Mae. Robert Anderson, whose home is underwater, said he has tried to modify with Freddie Mac but with no luck."I want the investors to step down and talk to us," Anderson. "I've  been going through anxiety."

                           

                        Currently Georgia is near the top of the list of most devastated states in this foreclosure crisis and as a region, the Southeast is the hardest hit per capita. Homeowners, renters and the homeless have been devastated by unjust practices that include refusal to reduce principal, bulk sale of homes to investors at 10-20% of market value, and holding properties hostage in communities hit hardest by the crisis. In Atlanta there are six vacant homes for each homeless person. This is not acceptable. Speaking on behalf of thousands in Atlanta’s growing homeless population was Michelene Meusa, mother of two who became homeless after going from under employed to unemployed. While addressing the crowd Michelene stated, “Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac stop holding these unoccupied, vacant, boarded up properties hostage! The hostage situation is over! People always talk about “Oh, well you know, homeless people are bums.” The biggest bums are right up there (Fannie and Freddie)”.

 

                        Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac are amongst the largest players in the economy controlling about 60% of the mortgages in the US. After gambling with our homes, and buying up subprime mortgages during the housing bubble, they were placed under conservatorship of the US government in 2008, receiving billions of taxpayers dollars. Now, four years later, they continue to put people out of their homes, people like Laura Johns. Laura Johns traveled all the way from Orlando to confront Fannie Mae’s unwillingness to modify here severally underwater home stating, “We talk about the middle class getting broken down. This is it. They're taking all of our wealth. You guys got debt forgiveness. You guys got a bailout. It's time for the homeowners to really be paying what their homes are worth.”

                       Recently Edward DeMarco, acting director of FHFA, has refused to offer principle reduction to help over 16 million underwater homeowners find relief and stay in their homes. His refusal flies in the face of suggestions from Timothy Geitner and the White House. The FHFA estimates that principal reduction could put up to $500 million back in the pockets of tax payers. Even with this they have began to sell houses at steep discounts to investors & hedge funds after refusing to reduce principal or accept rent from foreclosed homeowners.

                        Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac are trend setters in finance capital. Should they undertake massive principal reduction to real market values, and turn homes over to communities instead of hedge funds the echoes of the housing crisis would be greatly dampened.

                        As taxpayers with an 80% stake in both Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, today we demanded that both institutions:

  *Reduce principal to real market values

  *Stop conducting evictions

  *Allow homeowners to rent after foreclosure

  *Sell foreclosed properties back to occupants and non-profit developers, not out-of-state investors

  *Turn over vacant properties to community controlled entities to provide long-term affordable housing

Fannie and Freddie, Here We Come!

ATLANTA -- On Monday, September 10, 2012 at 11:00am,  folks from all over the Southeast will march on Fannie Mae's regional headquarters, 950 E Paces Ferry Rd NE in Atlanta . Our march will begin at the Buckhead Marta Station (across from the Financial Center on Peachtree).

This Southeastern action is the launch of a national campaign aimed at highlighting and addressing the inhumane practices of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. People from Athens, Chattanooga, Miami, Orlando and Nashville will join Atlantans in holding Fannie and Freddie accountable for their abuse of our system and demand change.

Many underwater homeowners who Freddie and Fannie refuse to work with will be present and demanding a meeting with Catherine Lasher of Fannie Mae. On the Eve of the event dozens of Organizers, underwater homeowners, and members of the homeless community gathered to prepare for the mobilization and  discuss what a Southeastern housing justice movement could look like.

We also finished last minute tasks and packed 150 lunches for some of the bus riders coming in from various parts of the city.

Currently Georgia is near the top of the list of most devastated states in this foreclosure crisis and as a region, the Southeast is the hardest hit per capita. Homeowners, renters and the homeless have been cursed by unjust practices that include refusal to reduce principal, bulk sale of homes to investors at 10-20% of market value, and holding properties hostage in communities hit hardest by the crisis. In Atlanta there are six vacant homes for each homeless person. This is not acceptable.

Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac are amongst the largest players in the economy controlling about 60% of the mortgages in the US. After gambling with our homes, and buying up subprime mortgages during the housing bubble, they were placed under conservatorship of the US government in 2008, receiving billions of taxpayers dollars. Now, four years later, they continue to put people out of their homes, and are the biggest obstacle to fixing the housing crisis.

Recently Edward DeMarco, acting director of FHFA, has refused to offer principle reduction to help over 16 million underwater homeowners find relief and stay in their homes. His refusal flies in the face of suggestions from Timothy Geitner and the White House. The FHFA estimates that principal reduction could put up to $500 million back in the pockets of tax payers. Even with this they have began to sell houses at steep discounts to investors & hedge funds after refusing to reduce principal or accept rent from foreclosed homeowners.
Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac are trend setters in finance capital. Should they undertake massive principal reduction to real market values, and turn homes over to communities instead of hedge funds the echoes of the housing crisis would be greatly dampened.

As taxpayers with an 80% stake in both Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, we demand that both institutions:

  *Reduce principal to real market values
  *Stop conducting evictions
  *Allow homeowners to rent after foreclosure
  *Sell foreclosed properties back to occupants and non-profit developers, not out-of-state investors
  *Turn over vacant properties to community controlled entities to provide long-term affordable housing

American Friends Service Committee is proud to play a key role in the mobilizing effort along with Occupy Our Homes ATL, Home Defenders League, Occupy Chattanooga, Right To The City Alliance, Miami Workers Center, and others.

Why should you go?

We will march on Fannie Mae's regional headquarters, located at 950 East Paces Ferry Road, at 11:00AM on Monday September 10th.