Victory! Jacqueline Barber Wins Back Her Home After a Year Long Fight!

Last October Retired APD detective and cancer survivor Jacqueline Barber reached out to Occupy Our Homes Atlanta facing immediate eviction. Like millions of Americans, Jacqueline’s foreclosure documents were filled with forged documents and she was dual tracked, which means while the bank was promising to work with her on a loan modification they were also working to foreclose on her. Despite having money to pay, her lender refused to make a deal that would keep her and her family in the home.

American Friends Service Committee has worked along side Jacqueline to launch an aggressive campaign that included around the clock eviction defense, a massive online petition, protests, sit-ins and even a trip to US Bank’s headquarters in Minneapolis.

Finally Ocwen, who now services the loan for US Bank, has agreed to sell back the home at below market value. Jacqueline  Barber’s home is now safe from eviction and the home will be hers for years to come. Famous whistle blower Lynn Szymoniak also stepped up to support Jacqueline’s efforts by contributing $15,000 toward Jacqueline’s buyback.

Occupy Our Homes Atlanta is thrilled about Jacqueline’s victory. We’re happy that she can finally focus on her recovery free from the stress of potentially being evicted by force from her home. In the end, the solution to Jacqueline’s housing crisis, principal reduction, was simple and should not have taken an almost yearlong battle to achieve. 

Like so many Americans Jacqueline was treated like a number instead of a human being. The sad reality is that those that already have so much are the ones that caused the housing crisis, while those who struggle are the one's that pay for it with their equity and homes. 

Early on in Jacqueline's fight she said she would have to be dragged out of her home, that she refused to roll over and play dead, and that she would do whatever it took to stand her ground against  Wall street. Jacqueline's victory is an invitation to resist wrongful foreclosure and eviction, resist abusive landlords, resist Wall Street control of our community's.

CBS story on Jacqueline's victory

Special Delivery For Ocwen Financial Corp

Today tens and thousands of signatures from four different petitions demanding that Ocwen and US bank make a deal that keeps Jacqueline Baber and her family in their home was delivered to Ocwens hard to find office at the 6th floor of the 2002 Summit Boulevard building  in Sandy Springs.

When we got up to the 6th floor, which is all Ocwen, the receptionist would not let us in. We had to call and talk with her through a glass door. We stated that we were there to deliver something to Vice President John Bitti. It was clear that they were afraid to let us in, we assured them that we simply were going to drop off the petitions and be on our way.

Eventually we decided to prop the petitions against the door; Dianne Mathiowetz was kind enough to pose for a picture with the petitions in front of Ocwens main office entrance.

As we were delivering the petition a team of folks were in the lobby passing out these flyers.

Our goal was to make it clear to Ocwen that we know where they are and we are not afraid to bring the fight to save Jacqueline's home to their front door. We also wanted their neighbors to know the Ocwen is willing to put a 20 year APD veteran and Cancer survivor out on the street at a time that her battle with cancer is not going that well.

The corporate complex the Ocwen's office presides on is totally privately owned, even the streets and sidewalks or not public, so we were confronted with private security pretty quickly, but not fast enough to stop us from delivering our petition and passing out tons of leaflets.

Solidarity For Jacqueline Barber

Today Members of Occupy Homes MN dropped a banner outside GMAC Mortgage in Minneapolis MN, that banner, “Jacqueline Barber’s Blood Will Be On Your Hands, GMAC Don’t Evict”.

The group also meet with GMAC staff and delivered a doctor’s note(Image of note below) and demand that GMAC work with Jacqueline Barber. GMAC committed to contacting representatives with Occupy Our Homes Atlanta with 24 hours.

Jacqueline has not only been fighting for her home, she’s been fighting for her life. Jacqueline’s cancer came out of remission at the end of last year and she is now undergoing aggressive chemotherapy.

More on Jacqueline’s story and her online petition.

Former APD Detective is Fighting for Her Life, as GMAC and US Bank Drag tTheir Feet

Jacqueline Barber is not only fighting to stop US Bank and GMAC from taking her home, she’s also fighting cancer and back on full chemo treatments. Thousands of people all over the country read about Jacqueline’s story last October and responded. Countless phone calls and emails were sent to GMAC and US Bank officials. Protests were organized in front of US bank branches. Thousands signed Jacqueline’s online petition.

When US Bank and GMAC finally responded, they said they wanted Jacqueline to make an offer on the house, which she quickly did, offering the same price US bank was willing to sell it for on the courthouse steps.

Jacqueline and some of her supporters were so motivated to end this long struggle that they flew to Minneapolis in December, and marched to US Bank’s headquarters to deliver their petition, which over 23k people signed, and pressure US Bank and GMAC to do the right thing.

GMAC and US Bank continue to drag their feet with a response. Meanwhile Jacqueline Barber is literally fighting for her life. Jacqueline has been advised by her doctor that stress will increase the risk of complications with her cancer. The stress of not knowing what is going to happen with her home has taken a serious toll on Jacqueline Barber’s health.

We are encouraging folks to call GMAC and US Bank and ask them to do the right thing, sell the house back at the price they purchased it on the courthouse steps.

US Bank Contact: Richard Davis, US Bank CEO: (612)482-0218
GMAC Contact: Susan Fitzpatrick, Communications Director 215-734-4400
                        Dana Dillard, GMAC Mortgage Senior VP: (214)874-2269

Former APD Officer Speaks Out Against Use Of Police Force In Evictions

As the housing crisis continues to put more and more people on the street we've seen a wave of brave housing justice organizers around the country that have demanded that banks be held accountable for their illegal mass felony fraud.

People are standing up to the financial institutions that have been using our homes as ATM's. Housing justice groups in Atlanta, DC, Minneapolis, LA, Oakland, Colorado, Portland, Nashville, St Louis, and other cities have stood with residents who are resisting foreclosures, evictions, and taking back bank owned properties.

Banks are only able to enforce these evictions by using local law enforcement officers on the tax payers dime. It's a sad irony that these banks have milked our economy for 16 trillion dollars and now we're forced to pick up the tab for the eviction process.

Today 20 Atlanta Police Department Detective Jacqueline Barber stood in solidarity with the 36 Occupy Homes MN activists who were arrested for peacefully resisting the eviction of the Cruz family last may. Who did the arresting? It was the Minneapolis police department. How much did the bank pay for this service? Zero.

Many of the Occupy Homes MN activists were charged with inciting a riot, which is considered a violent crime in MN. Off the record many of the officers who were given orders to enforce the evictions would prefer not to carry out the order, but forced between carrying out the order and losing their jobs is a tough decision.

It's time to start prioritizing the needs of our neighborhoods over the needs of the very financial institutes that continue to disrespect our communities and hold our economy hostage. Our homes are ATM's.

A community is stronger and healthier when it is controlled by those that live in it, not far removed entities that only seek to build their fortune on the shattered dreams of others.

The brave folks around the country that are putting their bodies on the line for their neighbors are heroes  and should not be persecuted.

The Long Road To Justice For Jacqueline Barber

After joining Occupy Our Homes Atlanta and standing up publicly to GMAC and US Bank against her eviction, Ms. Barber was told by representatives of GMAC to make an offer to buy back her home, which she can afford at current market value.

Following their direction, Jacqueline put in an offer and GMAC sent an appraiser to her home. After saying they would report back about the appraisal, they instead backed away from negotiations, built a wall of silence, and have since pushed strongly ahead in the process to get Ms. Barber evicted.

The stress of facing eviction has already brought Jacqueline's cancer out of remission. Recently, Ms. Barber went to her doctor who told her that she will have to resume aggressive chemotherapy and radiation treatments if she is unable to relax and stay stress free while undergoing her current treatment.

Not only have US Bank and GMAC blatantly lied to Jacqueline, her supporters, and even members of the media regarding their willingness to negotiate, it seems that they are keen on the idea of pushing a cancer patient into worse condition. Not only is Jacqueline having to fight to save her home, she is now fighting to save her life as well.

To let GMAC and US Bank know we don't take such issues lightly, Jacqueline Barber, Occupy Our Homes Atlanta, American Friends Service Committee, and some of Jacqueline's friends made the bold decision to make the journey  to Minneapolis on Sunday to pay them a visit.

The fine folks at Occupy Homes MN greeted us at the airport and hosted a meet and greet dinner. There Jacqueline was introduced to a number of local residents that were fighting for their homes as well.

 Today Jacqueline marched on US Bank and GMAC-RFC with allies from Occupy Homes MN, and the Home Defenders League.  The solidarity in the emerging housing justice movement was amazing and inspiring !The goal was to keep Jacqueline in her home, in good health, and to shine a light on the unjust illegal fraud at the hands of the financial institutions that continue to hold our communities and our economy hostage.


We were able to force  meetings with both US Bank and GMAC and deliver over 20,000 signatures on petition urging US Bank and GMAC to do the right thing and make a deal that would keep Jacqueline and her family in the home. We also delivered pay stubs and bank account statements that prove Jacqueline could afford the home.

Add your name to the petition to keep Jacqueline Barber and her family in the home.

Wells Fargo and US Bank are celebrating Breast Cancer Awareness Month by trying to evict cancer survivors from their homes.

 After retried APD detective and Cancer survivor Jacqueline Baber’s story hit the airwaves and newspapers other cancer survivors facing eviction across the country started reaching out to her, and had more than cancer and eviction in common. It seems there’s a trend emerging that links cancer, US Bank, and Wells Fargo.

One of those is Ana Casas Wilson who has lived in the same home near Los Angeles for 40 years. In 2009, she was diagnosed with breast cancer, and her husband had to take some time off to care for her. Their income quickly rebounded, but they missed some mortgage payments. They tried to get back on track and work with the bank on modifications.  Ana was born with cerebral palsy, and has been a passionate and effective advocate for the disabled.

Wells Fargo foreclosed on her anyway, refusing to accept her payments.

Jacqueline Barber spent 20 years on the Atlanta police force, only retiring when injured by a car while on duty. In 2009, the predatory loan on her home caused her payment to go up $1500, and she fought to stay current. Then she was diagnosed with bone marrow cancer and had to undergo aggressive treatment to save her life. She fought back against the disease, and spent months filling out forms and asking for modifications to her mortgage.

A Wells Fargo Executive Vice President assured her they were working on her case. Instead, they sold her loan to US Bank at foreclosure auction, and now she's fighting imminent eviction. The banks are refusing even to sell the home to friends and family who have banded together to help Jacqueline.

“While the banks do all this cancer awareness lip service with the pink ribbons they’re trying to evict cancer patients like me and Ana”, Said Jacqueline Barber. “In my case, if I had committed the fraud that US Bank did, I’d be in a federal jail. They do whatever they want and get away with it.” Jacqueline is now moving forward with a lawsuit against US Bank for wrongful foreclosure.

“Foreclosure is a cancer of our communities; one way of curing it is to keep people in their homes by working with them through tough times.” Says Jacqueline’s attorney Joshua Davis, who’s filing a lawsuit on Jacqueline’s behalf this week.

“The matter of Wells Fargo and US Bank in Ana and Jacqueline’s case suggests the insensitivity of these banks,” said SE regional Rainbow Push President Joe Beasley. “It’s time for them to do the right thing.”

“I’m surprised the Banks could be so cruel, my mom fought so hard and now this stress has taken her cancer out of remission” said Jacqueline’s daughter Yhonna Flowers

We're in the last week of Breast Cancer awareness month, but it seems like the only awareness Wall Street bankers have is of their foreclosure lists.

Please sign and share Jacqueline's online petition: http://start2.occupyourhomes.org/petitions/us-bank-don-t-evict-cancer-patient-jaqueline-barber-keep-her-in-her-home-1?time=1349475040

Tim Franzen

American Friends Service Committee

A Blitz of Housing Justice Action in Atlanta!

From multiple cookouts, to press conferences, call-in campaigns, and physical eviction defense Atlanta, has seen a flurry of housing justice activity.

Both Jacqueline Barber and Sherrye Calhoun hosted eviction free cookouts in their yards which not only built support for their struggle against the banks, it also brought out others facing housing struggles. Both cookouts became touchstones for folks in struggle that had seen Jacqueline and Sherrye's stories and were inspired to fight the financial institutions that would have them on the street with nowhere to go.

One of those people was JoSelf Freeman, who was facing an eviction today. JoSelf saw Jacqueline Barber's story on the news and was inspired to reach out. After scrambling to put together a phone/email blast to put pressure on Fannie Mae and Bank of America, putting pressure on local government, and filling his yard with home defenders this morning, JoSelf's eviction was put off for two and a half more weeks; hopefully enough time to pressure Bank of America and Fannie Mae to make a deal that keeps JoSelf in his home.

Sherrye Calhoun also had a press conference this morning to declare she would not be leaving her home despite being under threat of arrest for trespassing in the place she's called home for 30 years.

It's taken a lot of organizing work, crippling housing conditions, and a lot of courage from residents to break the code of silence and refuse to leave their homes, but there finally seems to be some real momentum toward changing the way our communities approach housing.

Everyday another resident reaches out with a willingness to stand up, speak out, and refuse to leave. It now feels within the realm of possibility that we could have the beginnings of a powerful housing justice movement. The shear math of the numbers those struggling to keep a roof over their heads versus the number of those who continue to build their fortunes on the shattered dreams of others is encouraging. Those struggling far outnumber those who profit off the housing crisis.


Please sign and share JoSelf's petition: http://start2.occupyourhomes.org/petitions/don-t-evict-joself-freeman-from-his-home



Tim Franzen
American Friends Service Committee

Foreclosure Racket Exposed In Fayetteville

Today Fayette County Woman Jacqueline Barber, who's refused to leave her home despite battling cancer and being under threat of eviction fro US Bank and GMAC, got a visit from someone else who has experience fighting the big banks.

West Palm, FL resident Lynn Szymoniak is the reason "robo signing" is a nasty practice almost everybody has heard of. While Lynn was facing foreclosure she discovered serious problems with the assignments. Documents filled out wrong, missing or terribly incorrect information, and counterfeit signatures, all ways the big banks cut corners so they could foreclose and evict people faster. Lynn to them to task, and won!

Having exposed several serious problems with the assignments, and feeling a connection with Jacqueline, Lynn volunteered to fly to Atlanta to do a press junket at Jacqueline's home and spend the day with Jacqueline's supporters.


The settlement she helped the US government win cost the big banks over 25 billion dollars, which she admits should have been closure to two trillion. Lynn volunteered to take a look at Jacqueline's paperwork and guess what she founds, “I look at the assignments and said, ‘Oh no, this isn’t right.' Four different dates the trust acquired Jacqueline’s mortgage in 2007 and 2011. I know this is not correct,” Szymoniak said.
CBS Atlanta 46
Lynn was impressed with our work in Atlanta and stated on numerous occasions that the solutions to the housing crisis do not lie the courtroom, or on the steps of the capitol, in fact in many cases judges and politicians either don't care or are commiserating with the foreclosing entities in one way or another. Our power is in creative, bold direct action. Our power is in the spotlight we force on injustice. Our power is in refusing to play by their rules. 


Tim Franzen
American Friends Service Committee

Famed Whistle Blower Lynn Szymoniak Exposes Major Fraud In Jacqueline Barber's Foreclosure

Lynn Szymoniak will join Jacqueline Barber at her home Wednesday 10/17 from 12:30pm-5pm for press junket

160 Stearman Road Fayetteville Georgia 30214(The street name was changed a few years ago so it may not show up on GPS, try using 160 Woodland Road)

Last week, former Atlanta Police officer and cancer fighter Jacqueline Barber joined forces with Occupy Our Homes Atlanta in a last ditch attempt to save her home and stop her impending eviction. The story struck a chord with millions of others around the country who were inspired by Ms. Barber's story and were outraged to hear about her battle with the bank. 

One of those people happened to be Lynn Szymoniak, the famed whistle blower who uncovered massive mortgage fraud, and served as an expert witness for the US government in the case brought against the nations five biggest mortgage servicers earlier this year. In March, she was awarded $18million for her part in the case that resulted in a $25billion settlement, an amount she acknowledges is not nearly enough to make up for what homeowners are going through. Lynn investigated and uncovered much of the fraud when she was faced with foreclosure herself, after her own battle with cancer wiped out her savings. "I can't imagine having to fight the banks for my home, while battling cancer at the same time," she says relating her experience to what Jacqueline is going through right now. 

Lynn examined Jacqueline's mortgage documents after hearing her story and revealed her opinion that fraud was prevalent, including assignments that appear to have forged signatures by well known "robo-signers", and sent a letter to Ms. Barber explaining what she had found. 

On Wednesday, October 17, Lynn Szymoniak will visit Jacqueline Barber at her Fayetteville home to offer her support.

On Wednesday we will have poster sized title assignments and expose the clear fraud is Ms. Barber's case. Supporters including former APD co-workers will be present as an eviction could still happen any day.

The American Friends Service Committee is excited to be one the ground providing resources and building capacity around Jacqueline Barber's campaign and the growing housing justice movement. More and more we are seeing folks that haven't been engaged in grassroots organizing get involved and longtime organizers and organizations take on housing campaign initiated by Occupy Our Homes ATL.

If You Haven't already, please sign and share the online petition to save Jacqueline Barber's home.

Link to 60 Minutes story on Lynn Szymoniak: http://www.cbsnews.com/video/watch/?id=7402093n

Jacqueline Barber's Home Occupation Day One

Today over 30 of Jacqueline Barbers Friends, former co-workers, and Occupy Our Homes Atlanta members stood with Jacqueline with one simple message; we will not be moved.

With eviction looming the decision was made to launch a full scale 24/7 occupation to ensure that US Bank and GMAC can't execute an eviction.

Each day it becomes more clear that there were serious problems with Jacqueline's loan. Not only was the loan predatory, there are some pretty tell tale signs of foreclosure fraud. While the plan is to file a wrongful foreclosure lawsuit on Monday, our focus over the weekend will be to organize creative, dynamic, national direct action next week.

Committing to a home occupation is a big deal, the pitching of tents and dropping of banners means one thing; we are not leaving until a solution if found that keeps this family in this house.

Jacqueline Barber’s Stay Struck Down By The Court, Jacqueline Vows To Resist Eviction

Today US Bank and GMAC lawyers fought to lift the stay on Jacqueline Barber’s home. Although we packed the courtroom with supporters, they were successful, which brings them one step closer to being able to evict Jacqueline and her four young grandchildren.

The case failed because Jacqueline’s chapter 13 bankruptcy (which was grounds for the stay) was filed after the home was sold on the court house steps.

It is clear that US Bank and GMAC intent to begin the eviction process immediately.
Jacqueline has made it clear that she will fight no matter what stating that, "If they come to put me out, I hope Occupy Our Homes will be carried out with me because they're going to have to have to physically remove me from the property. I refuse to roll over and play dead."

AFSC Atlanta plans to assist Occupy our Homes ATL in an effort to dual track the bank the same way they dual tracked Jacqueline and millions of other Americans. Jacqueline was dual tracked when America's Servicing Company claimed they were working on her modification while simultaneously foreclosing on her. Occupy our Homes ATL will dual track US Bank and GMAC by helping Jacqueline pursue legal action in state court and taking aggressive direct action to keep Jacqueline and her family in their home.

Tomorrow morning at 11am we will be launching a full scale 24/7 occupation of Jacqueline’s home(160 Stearman Road Fayeteville, GA 30296 or 160 Woodland Road Fayeteville, GA 30296). We will be joined by many of Jacqueline's former co-workers at the APD and other supporters, many of whom have committed to refuse to leave when the marshals come to evict. We invite the press for interviews at 11am.

Although US Bank continues to pass the buck when it comes to Jacqueline’s home, it’s very clear that they own the trust that controls the 3,000 mortgage bundle that her house is tied up in (RASC 2006-EMX2) and GMAC is simply the enforcer….or servicer.

Jacqueline's demands remain the same, stop the eviction process, and sell back the home to Jacqueline or her family.