FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

November 14th 2011 #OccupyCleveland Media Coordinator: Renee Douglas P: 216-978-5059 Email: renee_e_douglas@hotmail.com #OccupyCleveland Media Coordinator: Erin McCardle P: 216-212-0610 Email: erin.m.mccardle@gmail.com #OccupyCleveland Media Contact: Jacob Wagner P: 440.231.6323 Email: jxw434@case.edu

www.occupycleveland.com

#OccupyCleveland to Prevent a Home Foreclosure

Cleveland November 14, 2011- On Tuesday, November 15th, Elizabeth Sommerer and her two children, ages 5 and 7, are being evicted from their home at W. 94th and Denison. Late Sunday night, members of #OccupyCleveland started setting up tents and occupying her property, with the intent of stopping the eviction. #OccupyCleveland seeks to shine a light on the tragedy and heartbreak of the foreclosure crisis. Members of #OccupyCleveland will be reaching out to Beth's neighbors on Monday to introduce themselves, explain why they are there and ask for their support. There will be a march at noon to other foreclosed properties in her neighborhood, to highlight the severity of the foreclosure crisis. At 7pm, #OccupyCleveland and the community will hold a vigil at Beth's home. They will remain on her property overnight. Tuesday morning, friends and allies of #OccupyCleveland will gather at Beth's home for a rally, in a last ditch effort to head off the eviction. Members of #OccupyCleveland will be in contact with Fannie Mae and Terra Realty to attempt to negotiate a rental agreement on Beth's behalf. The Sheriff's department and a moving truck will be arriving at 11:30 am, to remove Beth and her children from their home. #OccupyCleveland is asking that Fannie Mae allow Beth to rent her home and will not leave until her family has secured the right to stay there. In 2007, Beth Sommerer, her now estranged husband, and their two kids, bought a home. Due to a number of issues, they defaulted on their mortgage in 2009. In early 2010, the bank filed foreclosure paperwork. Around the same time, the family began working with ESOP to find a way to stay in their home. The mortgage was in Mr. Sommerer's name, so when he abandoned the process, Beth had no standing to pick up where he left off. By May 2011, Beth had gotten everything necessary to qualify for ESOP's foreclosure program, but still needed her husband's signature on the paperwork. He refused to sign and subsequently abandoned the family. In July, Beth filed for public assistance. She was later approved but has yet to receive any benefits. In August 2011, the home was sold in a Sheriff's auction, to Fannie Mae. Beth contacted Terra Realty and Development to try to reach a rental agreement. Terra Realty said they had no authority to do so. When Beth received an eviction notice in early October, she contacted the lawyer named on the notice, to ask either for a rental agreement or to be allowed to stay in the home until her benefits arrived. Beth has found a new place for she and her children. She enrolled in a relocation program with Catholic Charities that will cover her deposit and last month's rent, as well as moving expenses. She cannot sign the lease until her benefits arrive. She was told her benefits would arrive by the end of November. Therefore, at most, she only needs a few weeks extension. The lawyer was not receptive to any agreement. The eviction has been scheduled for Tuesday, November 15, at 11:30am. ###End