Foreclosures And Health Risks

Posted in Foreclosures, November 23rd, 2007 |

The abandoned pools have gone murky. Health worker scoops up some of the scum to check potency of anti-mosquito treatment. A bloated floating doll spoke volumes about a family that has vanished. It is not just mosquitoes – these stagnant pools have become depots of countless deadly diseases. Health officials are in a hurry and scurry to mend matters but the problem is of such jumbo proportions that are just not prepared to tackle it on a war footing without adequate war gear. This California story – the worst affected region – is the same right across the nation. In any kind of neighbourhood – behind the glitz and dazzle – it is the same deadly health menace repeating itself.

The administration can order and make noises about maintenance but the ownership of these houses is in a state of limbo. It is proving difficult to track down owners with mortgages being made into packets and bundled off in slices to distant investors. Joseph Schilling is the director of policy & research based in Washington dealing with problems related to deserted houses. The banks are hardly giving any importance – their task mainly being to foreclose and auction off the unit. Till buyers can be found they cannot bother. Local officials try to remedy the matter and wait to hand over the bill later to the future owner.

In the city of Chula Vista, an ordinance has been issued saying that lenders are to notify the city fathers simultaneously with the notice of default, pay fees and or hire management firms. It has been in force since a month and so far 30 voluntary registrations have been made. Another 30 are being processed.
Pools drew the attention of Governor Schwarzenegger of California who declared emergency and sanctioned $6 million for war against mosquitoes. People were urged to report abandoned pools. A hot line has been activated. No statistics about pools have come in but it can be calculated roughly from the number of foreclosures. In early November there were 370 cases of West Nile fever. 16 proved to be fatal. All were from regions of concentrated foreclosures. It is higher than last year’s count of 278 cases and 7 deaths. Officials are optimistic that the situation would have been worse if emergency had not been declared. Some suggest draining pools but that might lead to spreading of the larvae. It is a baffling situation.