Ravenwood Eviction: Negotiations with Fannie Mae Begin

March 29, 2011

After almost a year of being stonewalled by Fannie Mae (the current owner of 9 Ravenwood), today and the day after the eviction of the family and 7 were arrested in protest, Fannie Mae came to the table to begin negotiations with the family. This afternoon Catherine Lennon of 9 Ravenwood Ave was on a five-way call with 3 officials from Fannie Mae and staff person from Congresswoman Louise Slaughter's office who arranged the call. According to Ms. Lennon the dialogue was very positive and that Fannie Mae vowed to work with her to get her home back. They stated that the first step was to get the family's records of current income and would continue to work from there. In addition, Take Back the Land Rochester received calls today from both Senator Chuck Schumer's office and Senator Kirsten Gillibrand saying that they would also be stepping up efforts to intervene on the family's behalf. You can find Congresswoman Slaughter's press release below.

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Below is a press Release Sent by
Congresswoman Louise Slaughter's Office

Slaughter Steps In to Help Local Family Return to their Home

WASHINGTON– Congresswoman Louise Slaughter (NY-28) today intervened in the hopes of allowing a Rochester woman and her family of 11 to return to their home following an eviction by mortgage lender Fannie Mae.

Catherine Lennon of Rochester, called Slaughter’s office last week asking for the Congresswoman’s help so she could stay in her home with her family. It was Slaughter who first alerted Fannie Mae to Lennon’s situation.

Yesterday, Lennon was evicted from her Ravenwood Ave. home.

Today Slaughter spoke to officials at Fannie Mae and put Lennon in direct contact with officials who could help resolve her case. Lennon’s case is currently being re-reviewed by high level officials at Fannie Mae.

“I’m very happy to assist Ms. Lennon and her family of 11 so that they will be able to return to their home,” said Slaughter. “Seeing the outpouring of support from the community is particularly moving. Every day we hear about home foreclosures reported with faceless statistics but it is Ms. Lennon’s tenacity to protect her home and the family she loves that we should remember. I will continue to wish her and her family the very best.”