Tammy Howze
The Project
Tammy’s project focused on mortgage foreclosure prevention litigation and advocacy in Michigan. Tammy worked with lenders and housing counseling agencies on obtaining forbearances, loan modifications, and other foreclosure prevention efforts. Tammy also performed community outreach service on foreclosure prevention in Macomb, Oakland and Wayne Counties.
Seeing all the homelessness in the state of Michigan, more specifically, the city of Detroit, made me want to be part of the solution to helping people with housing issues.
Tammy Howze /
Equal Justice Works Fellow
The Project
Jeffrey worked with homeowners in the Cincinnati area to help them preserve their homes. These families could either be on the edge of foreclosure, meaning that counseling and advice, combined with a referral to a housing counselor, is the proper approach, or already in foreclosure, meaning that legal defenses in court are the appropriate approach. Additionally, Jeffrey ensured that homeowners are connected with available resources to keep them in their homes.
The Project
Through direct legal representation, we will help low-income homeowners at risk of losing their homes litigate in court and negotiate more affordable loans. Many homeowners face several legal hurdles to overcome before they can modify their loans, such as probate, bankruptcy, capacity, or divorce matters, and don’t have the legal resources to handle these matters. We will defend these clients’ foreclosure suits and assist them in accessing additional necessary legal resources. Our project will also help homeowners litigate predatory lending, mortgage fraud, and other affirmative defenses that may have flown under the radar of the court without our free legal counsel.
The Inspiration
The Project
Steve provided substantive legal representation to clients who are facing a foreclosure proceeding in Cook County Circuit Court or the District Court for the Northern District of Illinois. Steve represented clients in court and provide counseling to individuals that are defending their cases pro se. In addition to representing individuals in court, Steve’s project aims to work with other organizations to create innovative solutions for homeowners and other key players in combating the foreclosure crisis.
The opportunity to make a real difference in peoples’ lives drives me to work as hard as I can for my clients.
Steve Uhrich /
Equal Justice Works Fellow
The Project
I am in charge of the Tenants in Foreclosure Help Desk, located outside of the eviction courtrooms in the Cook County, Illinois courthouse. At the Help Desk, I will assist pro se tenants who are being evicted from their homes because the property they are living in has been foreclosed upon. Tenants who come to the desk receive foreclosure counseling to educate them about status of their building and the foreclosure case, as well as their rights under state and federal law. The desk will be expanded to provide assistance with document preparation for tenants to use when defending their case pro se.
The Inspiration
The Project
As a clinical fellow, I will be representing borrowers in foreclosure mediation and foreclosure defense litigation while helping law students hone their lawyering skills. Additionally, I will collaborate with community organizations to increase neighborhood awareness of rights to foreclosure alternatives and renter related foreclosure rights.