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The story of Susan Dragon Benn and her fight to keep the home she’s lived in for 20 years after falling on hard times for a brief period hit a chord with Mosaic readers and was our most read story this week.
We heard from New Jersey residents who all commiserated with Benn and some even shared their own stories. The Newark NAACP chapter also chimed in.
“To be perfectly honest, the Newark, NJ NAACP receives calls on this topic every week, said Rick Robinson chairman of the Newark organization and co-chair of the state criminal justice committee.
He said we should consider entertaining a more in-depth discussion and investigation on the topic of foreclosures.
“It is well documented that banks have been going after NJ Black homeowners unlawfully for years,” he said. “Something needs to be done to eradicate these unlawful and unethical practices on the federal level and we need to hold our state agencies accountable.”
Benn entered into a loan modification to get back to making regular payments, but her mortgage went from bank to bank and each time the agreed upon loan modification repayment amount increased.
Distraught, she hired a lawyer and has been fighting since 2018 with one judge granting a stay of eviction, to then have the next judge deny it – this went on a few times with various judges. Finally, on July 26, 2023, her stay was denied in its entirety and an eviction date was set.
In the meantime, she lives with her eldest son in his apartment, while her personal items take up two units in a pricey storage facility, which she says costs almost as much as paying a mortgage.
Homeownership is a key driver of building wealth and long-term security but the odds are against single Black women who experience a disproportionate number of foreclosures on their homes, often as a result of predatory lenders.
Unfortunately, a version of Benn’s scenario frequently occurs in New Jersey, which had the highest number of foreclosures in the third quarter of 2023, with 1 in every 595 properties experiencing a foreclosure filing.
The US Department of Housing offers some hope for people who are at risk for losing their homes and state senator, Britnee Timberlake spearheaded the Community Wealth Preservation Program (CWPP), which was introduced this year to help homeowners get their homes out of foreclosure.
As of this month, Benn is still fighting. She went to court with her attorney only to find out he can no longer practice in New Jersey after retaining him for years. Shocked but undeterred, Benn found herself a new lawyer and received a new court date. Her fate is yet to be determined.
Essential Reading from Mosaic:
- We’re more aware of autism, next comes acceptance. Here’s a list of sensory-friendly places. “Awareness is easy. Acceptance requires actual work,” the Autisic Self-Advocacy Network explains.
This Autism Acceptance Month, learn more about autism and engage in a variety of sensory-friendly activities with your loved ones in the Garden State. (Canva/Jacob Anthony Amaro | For Mosaic) Jacob Anthony Amaro | For Mosaic
- Why isn’t Eid a holiday in the Garden State? | Opinion NJ should rise to the occasion and grant American Muslims the gift of being with their loved ones during Eid
Hasnaa Mokhtar is the executive director of Wafa House. She says today she had explain to her 8-year-old son Malik that they could not stay for Eid festivities after prayer because he had to get back to school. (Photo courtesy of Hasnaa Mokhtar/Hasnaa Mokhtar) Hasnaa Mokhtar
- N.J. finally gets its 1st legal pot brownie. Here’s how to get one. The brownie promises to “deliver a unique experience with every bite.”
The PB&J swirled brownie, infused with 10 mg of THC, promises to "deliver a unique experience with every bite." (Courtesy Erik Bernstein/Jacob Anthony Amaro | For Mosaic)Jacob Anthony Amaro | For Mosaic
- Fed up social work students call for the end of unpaid internships. Students are asking for a realignment in the application of the profession’s core values of justice and equity.
Students say this system of non payment to interns takes advantage of individuals committed to enhancing the welfare of their communities. It devalues their work and encourages a culture of underpayment among governments, nonprofits, and private employers of social workers. (Photo courtesy of Alexandra Armanino/Alexandra Armanino) Alexandra Armanino
- AKA Sorority puts its stamp on Black reproductive and birth health equity. Black women in New Jersey experience seven times the rate of death from pregnancy-associated causes compared to their white counterparts.
A 2018 study revealed that New Jersey was among the worst in the U.S. with the fourth highest maternal mortality rate. Additionally, Black women in New Jersey experience seven times the rate of death from pregnancy-associated causes compared to their white counterparts. (Palabra with NAHJ)
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