Jewish Agencies Crafting Communal Response To Foreclosures

Posted in Foreclosures, June 17th, 2008 |

Foreclosures respect no frontiers – neither class nor creed, rich or poor. It is a great leveler – cold and indifferent like Death. Foreclosures have been galloping around in Maricopa County. Jewish agencies are rising to the challenge as a community and setting up centres to help the troubled foreclosed victims. Michael Zent of Jewish Family & Children’s Service comments that the problem is continuing to grow and affect all and sundry. But they are specifically trying to help those in the Jewish community who are beginning to lose their houses and homes.

The representatives of Jewish Federation of Greater Phoenix, Jewish Free Loan and JFCS as well as some other related groups met on 21st May 2008 at the headquarters of JFCCS on Northern Avenue, Phoenix. The invitees included Rabbi H. Rafael Goldstein, Bruce Tunnel of the Arizona Department of Financial Institutions and Patricia Garcia Duarte of Neighborhood Housing Services of Phoenix. Information about the enormity of the problems was exchanged as well as the availability of help and services from the secular community. Also were present members of the Jewish Community Foundation, the Deutsch Family Shalom Center, the Kivel Campus of Care, the Barness Family East Valley Jewish Community Center as well as the Jewish Tuition Organization.

Zeidman elaborated that about 500 to 600 Jewish families were in some stage of foreclosure. The spiraling numbers were part of the escalating problem raging all around. Specifically the Jewish agencies have recorded the increasing number of request for help coming from their own community.

The conference made the participants aware of the secular and Jewish resources available to help the foreclosure victims. Also ways and meanings of reaching out to the distressed were discussed so that the problem was nipped in the bud – that is before the foreclosure process even started. Help was to be in such a way that it would not compromise with the dignity of the help seeker. Keeping all these points in view the agencies were advised to proceed. It is expected that a blue print for action would be ready by this summer.

For those who cannot wait and are in a critical position, they can knock on JFCS’s Helping Hands. This programme stands behind financially cornered individuals and families by helping them to chalk out plans to become self-self reliant. Helping Hands is supported by donations from within the Jewish community.